Characteristics of patients with allergic polysensitization: the POLISMAIL study

Area of Science:

• Immunology and Allergy
• Respiratory Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Respiratory allergy commonly features worsening symptoms, rhinitis-asthma comorbidity, and polysensitization to aeroallergens.
• Polysensitization begins in childhood, with few adult patients remaining monosensitized.
• Limited research exists on the specific characteristics of polysensitized individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics of polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma.
• To evaluate the patterns of sensitization and their relationship with quality of life.
• To confirm the relevance of ARIA classification in polysensitized patients.

Main Methods:

• A large cohort of patients with allergic rhinitis (ARIA criteria) and/or mild to moderate asthma (GINA criteria) was studied.
• The types, number, and patterns of sensitizations were assessed.
• Quality of life was measured using the Juniper's RQLQ questionnaire.

Main Results:

• 418 patients were enrolled (mean age 26.4 years), with 198 having both allergic rhinitis and asthma.
• The average number of sensitizations was 2.6; 73% had persistent rhinitis, often moderate-severe.
• Polysensitization correlated with quality of life issues but not the number of sensitizations.

Conclusions:

• Polysensitized patients benefit from the ARIA classification for allergic rhinitis.
• Persistent allergic rhinitis is the predominant form in this cohort.
• Asthma co-occurs in approximately half of the allergic rhinitis patients studied.