Tissue-specific immunoglobulin E in maxillary sinus mucosa of allergic fungal sinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this prospective study were to analyze the specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) in maxillary sinus mucosa and to determine the importance of local tissue sIgE in the patients with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS).


METHODS
We investigated tissue-specific IgE in the maxillary sinus mucosa. Thirty-four patients with rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups--AFS, fungal sinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The sIgE profile of the maxillary sinus mucosa was studied by the CAP method. Other parameters, such as allergic symptoms, presence of fungi hyphae and eosinophilic mucin in the sinus cavities as well as computed tomography (CT) scanning findings were also evaluated in all groups.


RESULTS
All patients in the AFS group had allergic symptoms, and the serum IgE test was positive to mites or house dust, but none had a positive serum IgE response to Aspergillus. However, 85.7% of this group had tissue sIgE to Aspergillus.


CONCLUSIONS
The local tissue sIgE profile is more specific than the systemic sIgE profile in determining the allergic status of AFS patients. Tissue sIgE for fungi may be considered as a part of AFS diagnostic criteria.
Department of Otolaryngology, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yu-Tuan
YT
Chang
Sheen-Yie
SY
Fang
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D007073:Immunoglobulin E