[IgE values in nasal mucus in the diagnosis of perennial allergic rhinitis].

Perennial rhinitis may be caused by an allergic response or by the vasomotor reaction to cholinergic hyperactivity. The differential diagnosis of these etiologic forms poses a difficult problem for the clinicians. The pathophysiology of rhinitis is characterized by vascular ingurgitation and mucous edema, phenomena which may result from such diverse etiologic factors as cholinergic hyperactivity and allergy. In our study, we will evaluate total IgE levels in nasal secretions, irrespective of serum of local origin. Fifty-four patients suffering from perennial rhinitis, aged between 7 and 63 years, were studied. Fourteen presented vasomotor rhinitis, while the remaining 40 were affected with the IgE-dependent form. The following tests were done: blood eosinophil count, mucous eosinophyl count, serum IgE (PRIST), cutaneous tests with house dust, acarus and fungal antigens and nasal provocation tests. IgE levels in mucous were also evaluated. The following results were obtained: 1. No significant differences were found in blood eosinophil counts between the groups studied. 2. No significant differences were found in serum IgE levels between the groups studied. 3. Significant differences were found (P less than 0.001) in the levels of eosinophils in mucous among the groups studied. 4. Mucous IgE levels are significantly greater in the allergic form than in the vasomotor form of rhinitis. The level of IgE in mucous serves as a useful but not pathognomic parameters in the differential diagnosis of the different etiologic forms of rhinitis. As such it should be considered within the context of all clinical and analytic data before a conclusive diagnosis is made.