TY  - JOUR
AU  - Arif, Akhmad
AU  - Perkasa, Muh Fadjar
AU  - Raihanah, Amira Trini 
AU  - Zainuddin, Andi Alfian 
AU  - Rahardjo, Sutji Pratiwi
AU  - Punagi, Abdul Qadar
TI  - Comparative efficacy of isotonic saline (0.9% NaCl) and sea salt water mineral nasal spray on nasal mucosal eosinophil cytology in patients with moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis
PY  - %2026/%08/%07
Y2  - %2026/%08/%27
JF  - Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis
JA  - Acta Biomed
VL  - 97
IS  - 4
SE  -  ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
DO  - 10.23750/abm.2026.18717
UR  - https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.2026.18717
SP  - 18717
AB  - Background and aim: Nasal irrigation is a foundational adjuvant therapy for allergic rhinitis (AR). While 0.9% NaCl (isotonic saline) is conventional, sea salt water (SSW) mineral sprays enriched with complex trace elements are hypothesized to provide superior anti-inflammatory modulation. This study compared the efficacy of 0.9% NaCl and SSW mineral nasal spray on nasal mucosal eosinophil counts and clinical symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe persistent AR.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 30 patients with moderate-to-severe persistent AR were allocated into two groups (n=15 each): one group received 0.9% NaCl irrigation (20 mL twice daily), and the other received SSW mineral spray (0.15 mL twice daily). Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline, week 2, and week 4. Objective nasal mucosal eosinophil counts were assessed via nasal scraping and Papanicolaou staining at baseline and week 4.Results: Both groups exhibited significant reductions in nasal eosinophil counts and VAS scores by week 4 (p