Rhinitis medicamentosa. An experimental histopathological and histochemical study.

The deleterious effects of decongestant drops on the respiratory nasal mucosa of guinea pigs were studied histopathologically and histochemically. The histopathological changes included: initial goblet cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, increased vascularity, oedema of the corium, mononuclear cellular infiltration and glandular hyperplasia. The histochemical changes indicated: increased secretory activity, increased phagocytic activity as well as disturbance of the vasomotor response.