Effects of orally administered drugs on dynamic viscoelasticity of human nasal mucus.

The effects of orally administered drugs on rheologic properties of nasal mucus were investigated in adult chronic sinusitis patients. The elastic modulus G' and the dynamic viscosity eta' of nasal mucus were determined by an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer. Both G' and eta' values of the mucus before drug administration were much higher than optimal viscoelasticity for mucociliary transport. Norfloxacin, an antibacterial agent, reduced the G' but not the eta' of nasal mucus. Serratiopeptidase, a proteolytic enzyme, reduced eta' but did not reduce G'. S-carboxymethylcysteine, a blocked thiol derivative of cysteine, did not change either G' or eta'. L-cysteine ethyl ester hydrochloride, a sulfhydryl type of agent, reduced both G' and eta'. The results indicate that some of the orally administered mucokinetic agents can improve the abnormal rheologic properties of nasal mucus in chronic sinusitis.