The effects of systemic steroid therapy on macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations in patients with nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations before and after oral steroid therapy in nasal polyps patients, and determine whether there is a difference between pre-treatment macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations and healthy individuals.

METHODS

The study included 24 patients with nasal polyps and 25 healthy individuals. The patient group received 1 mg/kg oral steroid.

RESULTS

The mean macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentration before oral steroid therapy was 3889.79 pg/ml in the patient group and 2334.52 pg/ml in the control group. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations were statistically significantly higher in the pre-oral steroid therapy patient group than in the control group (p = 0.017). The mean pre- and post-oral steroid therapy serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations were 3889.79 pg/ml and 2451.25 pg/ml, respectively. The reduction in macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations was statistically significant (p = 0.010).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that concentrations of macrophage migration inhibitory factor may play a role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps.