Nasal polyposis: eosinophils and interleukin‐5

Nasal polyposis: eosinophils and interleukin-5 Nasal polyposis Nasal polyps, or diffuse nasal polyposis, were first recognized as an illness over 3000 years ago. An excellent historical survey of the treatment of nasal polyps has been given by Vancil (1). The former methods of extirpation of polyps are quite similar to currently used forms of surgery; e.g., Hippocrates developed two surgical methods of nasal polypectomy around 400 BC, the first being extraction of the polyps by pulling a sponge through the nasal canal and the second being cauterization. Nasal polyps occur in all races and social classes (2). Hosemann et al. (3) suggested a prevalence of the disease of 12% of the adult population in Europe (prevalences of 0.2