Role of transepithelial ion transport as a determinant of mucus viscoelasticity in chronic inflammation of the maxillary sinus.

Chronic sinusitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with fluid retention, most frequently in maxillary sinus. We measured both viscoelasticity of maxillary sinus fluid and bioelectric properties of maxillary mucosa in an attempt to correlate the mucus viscoelasticity with bioelectric properties. During sinus surgery, maxillary sinus fluid and maxillary mucosa were obtained from 15 patients with chronic sinusitis. Viscoelasticity was measured with an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer within 24 h after sampling. Potential difference and short circuit current of maxillary mucosa mounted in Ussing chambers were measured before and after exposure of mucosal surface to amiloride. Both elasticity and viscosity showed significant positive correlation with percent inhibition of short-circuit current by amiloride. Our results indicate that the ion transport process plays a role in the determination of viscoelasticity of maxillary sinus fluid in chronic sinusitis.