Abstract:Abstract:Objective To evaluate the changes of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the serum and nasal fluid after endoscopic surgery in patients with chronic sinusitis, and to explore the possible role of EGF in the postoperative epithelization of sinusal mucosa. Methods Serum and nasal fluid were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and the EGF concentration was measured with radioimmunoassay. Results The EGF levels in the serum and nasal fluid in patients with chronic sinusitis were higher than those in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) in the nasal fluid but insignificant (P>0.05) in the serum. Compared with the preoperative levels of EGF, those at one week after FESS decreased significantly (P<0.05). The low concentration of EGF persisted for 3 weeks and then increased gradually in the nasal fluid, and that in the sersum tended to decrease slowly until 6 weeks after surgery. Conclusion The changes of EGF in the sersum and nasal fluid after endosocopic surgery may be related with the epithelization process of the sinusal mucosa after endoscopic surgery.