Serum and local IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and immunoglobulin E in allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinosinusitis (AR) is a clinical manifestation of a type 1 hypersensitive reaction. A complex of reactions involving components of the immune system - cells, mediators, cytokines, neuropeptides, adhesion molecules etc., are involved in the manifestation of the disease symptoms.

To evaluate the role of some serum and local cytokines and IgE molecules in the pathogenesis of AR comparing results in patients and healthy controls.

The study was conducted at the Prof. Dr. St. Kirkovich University Hospital and Medical University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

A trend towards higher serum levels in patients with AR compared to controls was found for IL-4, but with no significant difference. In the group of AR patients, those with the intermittent form had higher, although with no significance, interleukin 4 (IL-4) levels in the lavage compared to those with the persistent form. In nasal lavage fluids a tendency towards higher IL-5 levels was found in intermittent AR patients compared to those with persistent AR. A slight trend towards significantly higher serum levels of IL-13 in overweight patients compared to those with normal weight was found.

Regardless of the obvious differences of the concentrations of the cytokines studied in our groups, oftentimes no significant difference is observed. More studies should be conducted in order to show the role of IL-4, -5, -13, and IgE in the pathogenesis and severity of the disease.