171 Ashley Ave.
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April 2007
Children's Research Institute News Brief
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Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA
Executive Director
Darby Children's
Research Inst. |
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Inderjit Singh, PhD
Scientific Director
Darby Children's
Research Inst. |
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Researchers aim to improve sinusitis therapies for kids
Chronic sinusitis affects ten to 15 percent of kids in the US. "Sooner or later, most kids get sinusitis," explains Dr. Rodney Schlosser, a rhinologist and sinus specialist in MUSC's ENT department. But for a child with cystic fibrosis, it can mean much more than just a minor infection.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common genetic disease in Caucasians, affecting both children and adults. Nearly 100 percent of cystic fibrosis patients suffer from chronic sinusitis. "The disease affects the entire airway; children with the disease exhibit abnormal immune responses that are quite different from non-cystic fibrosis patients," explains Dr. Schlosser. "It negatively impacts their quality of life. For these kids, getting a sinus infection can lead to pulmonary or lung infections."
"We need better therapies for these kids," he says.
As principal investigator in a study looking at the immunological response to sinusitis in children and adults, that's exactly what Dr. Schlosser hopes to find.
As part of Dr. John Baatz's pulmonary pediatric biology program in the DCRI, Dr. Schlosser is examining the different immune responses in patients with cystic fibrosis versus non-cystic fibrosis patients. "We're also looking at responses in children with polyps, non-polyps, allergies, and even those with exposure to second-hand smoke," he explains.
Current treatments for sinusitis include antibiotics, systemic steroids and surgery, but these provide limited long-term success. The researchers are looking at the role of surfactant proteins and their innate defense of the respiratory tract.
"We are investigating whether altering the subsequent immune response is an effective therapy," he notes. "We are looking at how surfactant is produced in the upper airways of these patients, if it can be used to bring about a therapeutic effect, and if it can be used to correct the imbalance."
"If we can come up with a better therapeutic drug or help these patients avoid surgery, that's what we're striving for," he says.
With a recently renewed award from the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, Dr. Schlosser and his lab also hope to introduce new therapies for patients exposed to second-hand smoke.
"This study is looking at the effects of second-hand smoke on sinonasal immunity," he notes. "It's particularly applicable to children, who are often not able to protect themselves from or make a choice about exposure to second-hand smoke."
Working together on these projects with Dr. Schlosser are members of the pediatric pulmonary and adult pulmonary, and ENT departments.
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