Review article

The Role of Allergies in the Pathogenesis of Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyposis

Livije Kalogjera ; KBC "Sestre milosrdnice"

Abstract

Rhinosinusitis is an inflammatory disease with a complex pathogenesis involving many predisposing factors. It affects both nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa, and it has two different clinical phenotypes: with and without nasal polyps. A lot of review articles mention allergy, atopy and asthma as important predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis, with no evidence, however, of any cause-and-effect relationship. The evidence of comorbidity is primarily based on epidemiological data. Increased prevalence of acute rhinosinusitis in the pollen season and a more common allergic sensitization in chronic rhinosinusitis are just epidemiological evidence linking allergic diseases to rhinosinusitis, both acute and chronic. High levels of total IgE and specific IgE to both airborne and bacterial antigens in nasal polyp tissue could be detected in patients with negative skin prick test and low serum IgE values. In evaluating the role of atopy and allergy in rhinosinusitis, hypothetical explanations involve both impaired ventilation and drainage of the sinuses due to allergic inflammation and nasal mucosa congestion, and a specific local IgE mediated response to environmental antigens. It may be concluded that allergy is an important predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps, although the mechanisms are complex and just partly elucidated.

Keywords

rhinosinusits; nasal polyps; allergy; asthma; sensitization

Hrčak ID:

81146

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/81146

Publication date:

19.12.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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