Impact of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity on nasal mucociliary clearance.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity on mucociliary clearance time (MCCT) and clinical severity, as indicated by total nasal symptoms score (TNSS) and peak expiratory flow index (PEFI).

DESIGN

A prospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Tertiary medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred twenty-nine patients with rhinitis and 48 healthy control subjects.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of an allergy skin prick test in the patients with rhinitis categorized them as allergic (AR) or nonallergic (non-AR). We evaluated TNSS and PEFI in the patient group and assessed MCCTs from the patients in the rhinitis groups and the healthy controls.

RESULTS

The AR group patients had the longest MCCT, followed by patients in the non-AR group and the healthy controls (mean MCCTs, 14.36, 10.87, and 6.55 minutes, respectively). The AR group patients had significantly higher TNSS and worse PEFI compared with patients in the non-AR group (P = .002 and P = .03, respectively). We found a significant positive correlation of MCCTs with TNSS, and MCCTs showed a tendency to be inversely correlated with PEFI (rho = 0.43 [P < .001] and r = -0.22 [P = .05], respectively). In AR group patients, the wheal responses to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, American cockroach, and Bermuda grass were fairly correlated with the MCCTs (r = 0.39 [P = .001], r = 0.40 [P = .001], r = 0.34 [P = .01], and r = 0.36 [P = .02], respectively). The maximal wheal response among various positive allergen responses was well correlated with the MCCTs (r = 0.54 [P < .001]).

CONCLUSION

A prolonged MCCT, significant correlation between MCCTs and the magnitude of allergen reactivity, and clinical severity suggest an impact of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity on mucociliary clearance function.