Correlation between nasal polyps and serum creatinine – A preliminary observational study

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) presents with prolonged sinonasal inflammation and may occur with (CRSwNP) or without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps. While creatinine changes have been studied in gastrointestinal polyps, their relation to nasal polyps remains unexplored. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether serum creatinine correlates with presence or severity of nasal polyps using Lund Mackay (LM) computed tomography (CT) score and Lund Kennedy (LK) endoscopy score in CRS patients. A retrospective observational study was conducted on adults diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps, who underwent Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). Clinical history and examination findings, pre-operative diagnostic nasal endoscopy and radiological findings, and intra-operative records were studied in 114 subjects. Median creatinine varied significantly (P< 0.001). In CRSsNP, LK DNE score showed a moderate negative correlation with creatinine (p = 0.010), but no correlation was found in CRSwNP. LM CT score did not correlate with creatinine in either group. Serum creatinine had poor predictive ability for polyps (AUC = 0.54, p = 0.471); at a ≥0.8 mg/dL cutoff, sensitivity was 72% and specificity 40%. No significant correlation could be observed between nasal polyps and serum creatinine levels and hence, creatinine cannot be reliably used to predict severity of nasal polyps.