Effectiveness of 5-Pyrrolidone-2-Carboxylic Acid and Copper Sulphate (Pirometaxine) in Cold Dry Air Induced Rhinitis With or Without Viral Superinfection

Abstract

Introduction: Exposure to cold dry air can determine rhinitis-like symptoms. 5-Pyrrolidone2-Carboxylic acid (PCA) and Copper Sulphate (CS) showed antiviral and osmoprotectant effect. Aim of this study is evaluation of effectiveness of 5-Pyrrolidone-2-Carboxylic acid (PCA) 
and Copper Sulphate pentahydrate (CS) (Pirometaxine) association in the treatment of cold dry 
air rhinitis with or without viral infection.
Methods: Fifty consecutive adult patients affected by cold dry air rhinitis with or without viral/
bacterial infection were enrolled in this prospective observational study and treated with pyroglutamic acid (PCA) plus copper sulphate (CS) (pirometaxine). All patients underwent an objective evaluation with optic fiber endoscopy and symptoms assessment at time of enrolment, 
after 3 and 7 days of treatment. 
Results: All symptoms scores decreased at 3 and 7 days with a mean Total Symptoms Score 
of 5.98±2.22 and 1.30±1.23, respectively. Twenty-seven patients (54%) reached a Total Symptoms Score of zero after 7 days. Median number of days until healing was 6. Only 18% of cases 
had turbinate hypertrophy and 10% nasal mucosa hyperaemia after 7 days. Main side effects 
were nasal itch in 4 cases (8%) and nasal burning in one case (2%).
Conclusions: The association of 5-Pyrrolidone-2-carboxylic acid and copper sulphate (pirometaxine) represent a safe treatment for CDA-induced rhinitis with or without viral infection, 
with few side effects. Clinical importance of this therapy will be better understood with further 
studies, comparing results to those observed in a control group.