Allergic vs nonallergic rhinitis: which is more predisposing to chronic rhinosinusitis?
BACKGROUND
The impact of allergy on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is controversial.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether a history of CRS is more prevalent in patients with allergic rhinitis than in those with nonallergic persistent rhinitis.


METHODS
A total of 115 patients (78 females; mean age, 31.9 years; age range, 14-64 years) with persistent rhinitis were included in the study. A 7-point analog scale was used to report the severity of individual and global CRS symptoms and to determine the impact of rhinosinusitis symptoms on quality of life. The allergic status of the patients was evaluated using skin prick tests for common inhalant allergens, and asthma was evaluated by means of history, physical examination, and respiratory function tests. Rhinoscopy and paranasal sinus computed tomography were used to determine CRS.


RESULTS
Asthma and CRS were not significantly different in allergic and nonallergic patients. Nasal polyps were found equally in both groups (8 patients). However, mean Lund-Mackay staging scores, postnasal drainage, dental pain, and global CRS scores were significantly higher in patients with nonallergic rhinitis (P = .045, P = .001, P = .02, and P = .01, respectively). No significant correlations, except for dental pain (correlation coefficient, 0.250; P = .008), were found between Lund-Mackay scores and CRS symptoms. In rhinoscopy, the only conspicuous difference was nasal purulence in allergic patients (P = .002).


CONCLUSIONS
Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis may contribute similarly to the development of CRS.
Gelincik
Asli
A
Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. gelincik@istanbul.edu.tr
Büyüköztürk
Suna
S
Aslan
Ismet
I
Aydin
Salih
S
Ozşeker
Ferhan
F
Colakoğlu
Bahattin
B
Dal
Murat
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines