Local allergic rhinitis in elderly patients.

Area of Science:

• Allergology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Immunology

Background:

• Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is defined by nasal specific IgE and positive nasal provocation tests without systemic atopy.
• Information on LAR and general allergic rhinitis (AR) in elderly populations is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of LAR, AR, and non-AR in elderly patients presenting with rhinitis symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Skin prick tests, serum total IgE, and nasal provocation tests were conducted on 219 elderly rhinitis patients.
• Nasal specific IgE levels were measured in nasal lavage before and after provocation.
• Nasal symptoms were monitored using a visual analog scale.

Main Results:

• The study found 21.0% had LAR, 40.2% had AR, and 38.8% had non-AR.
• Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was the primary allergen for both LAR and AR.
• Increased nasal IgE correlated with clinical responses during nasal provocation tests.

Conclusions:

• Local allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis are prevalent conditions in elderly patients.
• These allergic conditions are often underdiagnosed in the geriatric population.