Chronic sinusitis: risk factors for extensive disease.
BACKGROUND
Chronic sinus disease is one of the most common diseases in the United States, and little is understood about its pathogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize prospectively the immunologic parameters that accompany extensive chronic sinusitis.


METHODS
Eighty adult patients with chronic sinus symptoms had a complete blood count with differential, coronal computed tomographic (CT) scan of the sinuses, and serum assays for total IgE, specific IgE, IgA, IgG, IgG subclasses, and pneumococcal titers.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven (46%) patients had extensive sinusitis, defined as a CT score > or = 12. A highly significant correlation was noted between the extent of disease and the peripheral eosinophil count (r = 0.53, p < 0.0001). In keeping with this finding, an eosinophil count > or = 200/microl was strongly associated with extensive disease (odds ratio [OR] = 19.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.4 to 72.7). Asthma (OR = 6.8, 95% CI = 2.2 to 22.0), atopy (OR = 4.3, 95% CI, 1.5 to 12.8), and age > or = 50 years (OR = 6.5, 95% CI = 2.0 to 22.2) were also associated with extensive disease. However, the association of eosinophils with extent of disease was independent of asthma, atopy, or age. Levels of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 subclasses did not correlate with extent of disease seen on CT scan. Although total IgE and IgG4 levels did correlate with disease, on multiple stepwise regression they did not add to the predictive value of the eosinophil count in identifying patients with extensive disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The association of asthma, atopy, eosinophilia, and elevated levels of IgE and IgG4 with extensive disease on CT scan is compatible with the hypothesis that chronic sinusitis may be a disease of immune activation of the T(H2) type.
Hoover
G E
GE
Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
Newman
L J
LJ
Platts-Mills
T A
TA
Phillips
C D
CD
Gross
C W
CW
Wheatley
L M
LM
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E