Nasal polyposis: prevalence of positive food and inhalant skin tests.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the etiology of nasal polyps and its relationship to allergy. The prevalence of positive food and inhalant skin tests in patients with nasal polyps and nonatopic controls was compared.


METHODS
Prospective controlled study in tertiary referral rhinology clinic.


RESULTS
Seventy percent (70%) of the patients with nasal polyps had positive skin tests to an average of four foodstuffs, compared to 34 percent of controls (P = 0.006). Only 35 percent of the nasal polyp patients also had positive inhalant skin tests. Overall, the prevalence of positive inhalant skin tests was similar in the nasal polyp patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the positive skin tests to foods are not merely a reflection of the general atopic status of patients with nasal polyps. It may be that non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivities, such as to ingested foods, play a role on the basis of a significant number of patients with positive intradermal skin tests to foods.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of the allergic status of patients with polyposis is important. Dietary manipulation may be indicated, though its role needs further investigation.
Collins
Melanie M
MM
Department of Otolaryngology, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, UK. melaniemcollins@hotmail.com
Loughran
Sean
S
Davidson
Pauline
P
Wilson
Janet A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000276:immunology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens