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Uptown Allergy offers biologic therapy for nasal polyps!

Treatment for Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) in New Orleans

Dr. Reena Mehta provides personalized chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) treatment options in New Orleans. Learn about CRSwNP symptoms and ask us about biologic therapy and other new CRSwNP treatment options. Schedule your visit today!

“The staff at Uptown Allergy & Asthma is wonderful, very caring and patient. Dr. Reena Mehta took her time with me going over all my symptoms and past treatments. She was very assuring when she talked about getting to the bottom of my symptoms. She is great.“

– Savina B, October 2021

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CRSwNP specialist Dr. Reena Mehta in New Orleans, LA

About Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP)

Overview

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Your sinuses are hollow cavities in your cheekbones, behind your nose, and around your eyes. These cavities contain mucus that helps to warm, moisten, and filter the air you breathe. Your sinuses can become infected or inflamed when something blocks your sinuses from draining, causing painful pressure in the cheeks and forehead. This condition is called rhinosinusitis, and when it persists for more than 12 weeks it’s considered chronic.

Roughly one in five individuals with chronic rhinosinusitis have nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are benign (non-cancerous) growths in the nasal cavity and are typically present in both sides of the nasal cavity. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is most common in adults in their 30’s or 40’s. It’s also rather common for individuals with CRSwNP to also have asthma.

CRSwNP Symptoms

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps symptoms include:

Nasal congestion
Facial pressure or pain
Loss of smell
Nasal drainage
Coughing

Woman suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) symptoms

CRSwNP Diagnosis

Diagnosis of CRSwNP begins with a thorough medical history and physical examination. Long-term loss of smell and nasal congestion are usually clear indicators of chronic rhinosinusitis, but do not necessarily establish the presence or absence of nasal polyps without imaging tests.

To confirm your diagnosis, you may be referred to an otolaryngologist (an ears nose and throat specialist) for nasal endoscopy or a sinus CT. Because medical and surgical approaches are used to manage nasal polyps, Dr. Mehta collaborates closely with otolaryngologists to optimize CRSwNP care.

Anatomical drawing of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)

CRSwNP Treatment

CRSwNP treatment options include maintenance medical therapy with nasal sprays, long-term symptom relief with biologics, surgical removal, and/or implantable devices that provide targeted drug delivery in the nasal cavity. Dr. Mehta can help you navigate your CRSwNP treatment options. Get in touch with us at Uptown Allergy & Asthma to schedule your visit!

Medical Therapy

Intranasal steroid sprays and nasal saline rinses are standard medical therapies for nasal polyps and CRSwNP treatment. Sprays are safe for long-term use, helping to reduce polyp size and improve CRSwNP symptoms. Specialty devices, such as the Optinose, spray deeper into the nasal cavity, helping to make steroid sprays more effective in reducing inflammation and nasal polyps. Leukotriene inhibitor (Montelukast) spray may also be prescribed to reduce symptoms associated with nasal polyps.

Prescription oral steroids can also be effective in shrinking polyps and improving symptoms, however risk of side effects with oral steroids preclude their long-term use.

Antibiotics may also be prescribed if there is evidence of an active infection.

Biologic Therapy

Dupixient (dupilumab) is a biologic therapy that was recently approved by the FDA specifically to treat CRSwNP. Dupilumab is administered as an injection every other week and can be self-administered at home. In addition to providing long-term CRSwNP symptom relief, biologic therapy has been shown to reduce the need for polyp surgery and oral steroid prescriptions in individuals with CRSwNP.

Surgical Treatment

More invasive CRSwNP treatments are typically offered by otolaryngologists when other treatment attempts have failed. Surgical removal is one such option, however, polyps tend to recur on a relatively short timescale, requiring long-term treatment with nasal steroids even after removal surgery. Nasal polyps can also be treated by implanting corticosteroid eluting stents.

Nasal spray treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)

CRSwNP Treatment in New Orleans

Ask us about biologic therapy and other new CRSwNP treatment options. Doctor Mehta has a reputation for developing strong relationships with her patients and being exceptionally attentive to their needs and concerns.