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Published on: September 22, 2023
Bidirectional link between upper and lower airways in patients with allergic rhinitis
A Bencova1, E Rozborilova, M Antosova
1Clinic of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin 03601, Slovakia. Bencova.alica@gmail.com
Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) indicates lower airway inflammation in allergic rhinitis patients. Pollen exposure increases NO, which decreases with nasal corticosteroid and antihistamine treatment.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology
- Allergy
Background:
- Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a potential non-invasive biomarker for eosinophilic airway inflammation.
- Allergic rhinitis involves upper airway inflammation, but its impact on lower airways is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of atopy, pollen exposure, and treatment on lower airway NO production in allergic rhinitis patients.
- To assess exhaled NO as a marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in the context of allergic rhinitis.
Main Methods:
- Exhaled NO measurements were conducted in 79 non-asthmatic allergic rhinitis patients and 54 healthy controls.
- Measurements were taken outside and during pollen season, both before and after pharmacological treatment.
Main Results:
- Allergic rhinitis patients exhibited higher exhaled NO levels than controls outside pollen season (18.3 vs 13.0 ppb).
- Pollen season significantly increased exhaled NO in patients (27.0 ppb) compared to outside the season (P=0.0001).
- Treatment with nasal corticosteroids and antihistamines reduced exhaled NO during pollen season (17.0 ppb).
Conclusions:
- The study confirms eosinophilic airway inflammation in the lower airways of allergic rhinitis patients.
- Pollen exposure exacerbates this inflammation, as indicated by increased exhaled NO.
- A bidirectional link between upper and lower airways is supported by treatment-induced reduction in exhaled NO.
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