ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of asthma on inflammatory cells infiltration of peripheral blood and nasal polyps in patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).MethodsAll the patients admitted to our department and underwent endoscopic surgery for CRSwNP between Jan 2016 and Feb 2018 were selected. A total of 77 cases were included and divided into two groups, i.e. CRSwNP with asthma (n=21) and CRSwNP without asthma (n=56) according to symptoms and preoperative pulmonary function and bronchial dilation test. Preoperative nasal endoscopy showed bilateral nasal polyps and computed tomography (CT) revealed approximately the same degree of severity of CRSwNP in all the patients. One week before surgery, all patients were given preoperative standardized treatment including irrigation of nasal cavity with saline, antibiotic treatment, nasal spray hormone and mucuspromoting agent. Fasting blood samples were collected preoperatively for classified count of inflammatory cells and inhaled allergens test. The nasal polyp specimens were obtained intraoperatively for HE staining, and then inflammatory cells dominated by eosinophils were counted at high magnification. The history of the secondary and multiple endoscopic surgeries were recorded in all the patients. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 software.ResultsThe percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils in the CRSwNP with asthma group was higher than that in the CRSwNP without asthma group (P＜0.05). Between the two groups, the differences of the percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils, and those of absolute values and percentages of eosinophils, plasma cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils and inflammatory cells in nasal polyps were all statistically insignificant (all P>0.05). The rates of complicated allergic rhinitis and the secondary surgery in the patients with asthma were higher than those without asthma (both P＜0.05).ConclusionsThe number and proportion of inflammatory cells are associated with CRSwNP with asthma, and CRSwNP patients with asthma suggest a higher likelihood of elevated eosinophils in peripheral blood. Asthma may affect the distribution of inflammatory cells in nasal polyps, but the number and proportion of local inflammatory cells may be affected by a variety of factors.