title: Serum interleukin-17 levels are related to clinical severity in allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T helper (Th)-17 cells are a subset of T helper lymphocytes that exert regulatory activities. Recently, it has been reported that serum interleukin (IL)-17 levels are high in the most severe cases of birch allergy studied outside the pollen season.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between serum IL-17 levels and clinical parameters in patients with allergic rhinitis studied during the pollen season.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 56 patients with persistent pollen-induced allergic rhinitis were evaluated during the pollen season. Serum IL-17 levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Symptoms were assessed by visual analogue scale, drug use was monitored and peripheral eosinophils were counted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IL-17 levels were significantly related to clinical symptoms, drug use and peripheral eosinophil counts (P = 0.0001 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that serum IL-17 level assessment might be considered to classify allergy severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Amici
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murdaca
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fenoglio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricciardolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D020381:Interleukin-17