Some immunological parameters in serum and nasal secretion in subjects with vasomotor and allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps - a comparative study.

We studied the levels of IgE, IgG, IgA and IgM in serum and nasal secretion in a group of 83 patients (57 with allergic rhinitis, 13 with vasomotor rhinitis and 13 with nasal polyps). For the measurement of the nasal IgE the RIST and PRIST techniques were used and the PRIST technique was used to measure the serum IgE. The remaining immunoglobulins were measured by means of nephelometry. For the clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis we took into account the positive reaction to some pneumoallergens, when performing the skin tests in addition to the clinical history. The levels of specific IgE in serum and nasal secretion were measured by the RAST technique. Our results may be summarized as follows: no significant change in the values of the serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM; an increase in serum IgE in subjects with allergic rhinitis and allergic polyps, an increase in the IgE in nasal secretion in subjects with allergic rhinitis and bilateral polyps - whether allergic or not - as well as an increase in the three remaining immunoglobulins in the different groups studies whether they were atopic or not.