Abstract
Introduction: Considering the level of allergic sensitization (0, 1, ≥2 positive skin prick tests: SPT) could provide novel insight into the immune response underlying asthma, rhinitis and their comorbidity.
Aim: To study how the level of allergic sensitization differs according to asthma, rhinitis and their comorbidity.
Methods: Analyses were conducted in 1199 adults of the first follow-up of the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma with available data on asthma, rhinitis, SPT, total-IgE and blood eosinophils. Participants were classified into 6 groups: no asthma, no rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis (NAR, nasal symptoms but no report of allergic rhinitis/hay fever), allergic rhinitis (AR, nasal symptoms and report of allergic rhinitis/hay fever), asthma only, asthma + NAR, and asthma + AR.
Results: Most of the participants with no respiratory symptoms or non-allergic rhinitis were not sensitized or mono-sensitized. Participants with co-morbid asthma and AR had the highest level of polysensitization. Other groups had an intermediate level of polysensitization. Interestingly eosinophils and total-IgE showed similar patterns.
No asthma, no rhinitis (n=362) | NAR (n=169) | AR (n=167) | Asthma (n=65) | Asthma + NAR (n=78) | Asthma + AR (n=358) | |
SPT*, %, 0 | 70.1 | 73.4 | 31.1 | 35.4 | 41.0 | 14.3 |
1 | 18.0 | 12.4 | 21.0 | 20.0 | 18.0 | 20.1 |
≥2 | 11.9 | 14.2 | 47.9 | 44.6 | 41.0 | 65.6 |
Eosinophil*, mean(sd) | 150(106) | 178(145) | 192(123) | 196(129) | 250(198) | 253(192) |
Total-IgE*, geometric mean | 33 | 47 | 79 | 72 | 100 | 158 |
*: p-overall<0.001
Conclusion: These results show a link between inflammation, polysensitization and comorbidity of asthma and rhinitis suggesting commonalities in mechanisms of Th2 inflammation and IgE response.
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