Local mucosal immunoglobulin E production: does allergy exist in non-allergic rhinitis?
In this review, we critically evaluate the evidence for local IgE production in allergic rhinitis mucosa and the concept of local allergy in non-atopic idiopathic rhinitis. Significantly, fewer studies have focused on the disease pathways associated with non-allergic rhinitis compared with their allergic counterparts. Recently, there's been a revival of the hypothesis concerning the existence of local tissue-specific allergic disease confined to the nasal mucosa of some systemically non-atopic rhinitis subjects. Providing the evidence for local mucosal IgE production in allergic rhinitis is a pre-requisite to reviewing its existence in non-allergic rhinitis. In addition, practical and theoretical approaches useful in the detection of allergy in non-allergic rhinitis will be discussed. Furthermore, successful therapeutic regimens used in the treatment of non-allergic rhinitis will be examined as these could provide an insight into the underlying pathophysiology of this common but poorly understood disease.
Powe
D G
DG
Division of Pathology, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. des.powe@nottingham.ac.uk
Jones
N S
NS
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007073:Immunoglobulin E