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A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma
Published on: June 4, 2017
Allergic rhinitis and asthma: how important is the link?
1Allergy Research Foundation, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Allergic rhinitis and asthma are closely linked, with nasal treatments potentially improving asthma outcomes. Understanding this connection is key for managing both upper and lower airway conditions effectively.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Upper and lower airway diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma, frequently coexist and share common pathogenic mechanisms.
- Epidemiological data show a high prevalence of nasal symptoms in asthma patients and vice versa, with rhinitis often preceding asthma development.
- Nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness is common in allergic rhinitis patients, even without clinical asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the link between upper and lower airway dysfunction, specifically allergic rhinitis and asthma.
- To investigate the impact of treating allergic rhinitis on asthma symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
- To examine potential mechanisms connecting nasal and bronchial pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological, pathophysiological, and clinical studies.
- Analysis of the effects of intranasal corticosteroids and antihistamines on asthma symptoms and bronchial reactivity.
- Investigation of proposed mechanisms including nasal-bronchial reflex, mouth breathing, and nasal content aspiration.
Main Results:
- Intranasal corticosteroids can prevent bronchial reactivity increases and asthma symptoms linked to pollen exposure.
- Treatment with intranasal corticosteroids or antihistamines reduces asthma symptoms and improves pulmonary function in patients with rhinitis and asthma.
- Nasal allergen challenge can acutely increase lower airway reactivity, suggesting a neural reflex.
Conclusions:
- A clear link exists between allergic rhinitis and asthma, supported by extensive evidence.
- Nasal therapies show promise in managing asthma symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
- Further research is necessary to ascertain if nasal therapy can modify the long-term course of asthma.
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