[Activity of serum arylsulfatase B in nasal allergy patients]

Although the arylsulfatase B has been reported to inactivate slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) in vitro there has not been studied about the relation between this enzyme and nasal allergy in vivo. The present study was done to examine the serum level of arylsulfatase B in 73 nasal allergy patients and 13 normal controls. Serum arylsulfatase activity was quantified by measurement of the hydrolysis product (p-nitrocatechol) generated by the interaction of this enzyme and a substrate (p-nitrocatechol sulfate, Sigma). The results are summarised as follows; 1. Arylsulfatase B activity is significantly elevated in sera of nasal allergy patients than in that of normal subjects. 2. There are no correlation between the enzyme activity and the number of peripheral blood eosinophiles. 3. There is tendency the severe the nasal obstruction, the lower the level of the enzyme activity.