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[Mastocytes in the diagnosis of chronic rhinitis]
J Udovicki1, G Bogdanović, R Magdu-Colak
1Klinika za bolesti uva, grla i nosa, Medicinski fakultet, Novi Sad.
Abstract:
In order to detect the allergic etiology of the disease, we looked for mastocytes in 18 patients with chronic vasomotor rhinitis 5 of these patients also had nasal polyposis. Mastocytes were found neither in the nasal smear of any patients nor in the scarification smear nor in the nasal smear of any patients nor in the scarification smear nor in the smear of the biopsy material, but they were found in the deeper layers of the nasal mucosa. They were regularly in the stroma and always with lymphoplasm-histocyte infiltrations. Prick-tests were negative in 13 out of 18 tested patients. By a follow up of 13 patients with chronic rhinitis it was established that findings of 7 patients were in correlation. In 3 patients skin tests, were positive and mastocytes present, while in 4 patients both of these parameters were negative. In 2 patients skin tests were positive and mastocytes negative, while in the other 4 patients skin tests were negative with a positive mastocyte finding, which points to allergy. Finally, in patients with nasal polyposis skin tests were negative with mastocytes positive in 4 out of 5 patients. The gathered results reveal that mastocytes were found in 11 out of 18 examined patients, that is in 61%, which is an encouraging fact and demands a further follow up and checking in a larger number of cases.
Insights
Mast cell presence in nasal mucosa, not smears, suggests allergy in chronic vasomotor rhinitis. Further research is needed to confirm mast cell
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Otolaryngology
- Allergology
Context:
- Chronic vasomotor rhinitis (CVR) and nasal polyposis are common conditions.
- The allergic etiology of CVR is not fully understood.
- Mast cells play a key role in allergic inflammation.
Purpose:
- To investigate the presence and location of mast cells in patients with CVR.
- To correlate mast cell findings with skin prick test results.
- To explore the potential role of mast cells in the pathophysiology of CVR and nasal polyposis.
Summary:
- Mast cells were detected in the deeper layers of the nasal mucosa in 61% of CVR patients, not in smears or superficial biopsies.
- Skin prick tests were negative in most patients, but mast cell presence correlated with potential allergic responses in some cases.
- In nasal polyposis, mast cells were frequently found despite negative skin tests, suggesting a role in this condition.
Impact:
- This study highlights the importance of examining deeper nasal mucosa for mast cells in CVR diagnosis.
- Findings suggest mast cells may be involved in CVR and nasal polyposis, even with negative skin tests.
- Further investigation with larger cohorts is warranted to elucidate the role of mast cells in these conditions.