Rhinophototherapy May Offer Promise to Allergic Rhinitis Patients

Some patients may want a more natural therapy, and may favor rhinophototherapy for this reason, noted Dr. Kelkar. Only allergy shots provide a natural way to build the immunity to reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms and are effective in the long-term, he said. A study comparing the two treatments would be beneficial, he added.

Currently, Dr. Kemeny and his colleagues at Rhinolight are developing protocols and upgrades for new rhinophototherapy indications, including chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. We are managing clinical trials for these purposes in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Croatia, Poland and in Hungary, he said.

In the United States, additional human clinical trials are under way, wrote Ms. Rogers in an e-mail about research at Allux. The company is also exploring other confidential ENT applications with similar technology.

If researchers can provide good data that rhinophototherapy is safe in the long term and has good short-term and long-term outcomes, while being cost-effective, it may be an option, concluded Dr. Kelkar.

©2007 The Triological Society