Nasal mucociliary clearance in patients with nasal polyposis.

We have studied 30 patients (13 males and 17 females) with nasal polyposis, measuring the nasal mucociliary clearance using the saccharin test. The results have been compared with those obtained in a control group of 20 healthy subjects. The values obtained in the group with nasal polyposis (mean +/- SD = 31.7 +/- 13.4 min) were significantly higher than those of the healthy subjects (mean +/- SD = 12 +/- 6 min; p less than 0.002). These results suggest that there is a significant decrease in the nasal mucociliary clearance of patients with nasal polyposis.