A Study on Cough Sensitivity and Airway Inflammation in Patients with Sinobronchial Syndrome

Figure 1

Consort diagram of the patients. (1) Cough course >8 weeks with normal CT images; (2) history of chronic rhinitis or sinusitis; (3) one or more specific symptoms (sensation of secretions dripping down into the throat, throat-clearing sign, nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, or sneezing); (4) one or more specific signs (erythema and “cobblestone” appearance of the posterior pharyngeal mucosa, or mucoid/purulent secretions dripping into the pharynx); (5) mucosal blur/thickening >6 mm, or an air-fluid level on a radiograph of the sinuses; (6) oral administration of H1-receptor antagonists (cetirizine, 10 mg, once-daily) with cough disappearance; (7) chronic sinusitis that was treated efficaciously with macrolide drugs (erythromycin, 250 mg, b.d.); (8) other causes of chronic cough were excluded.