title: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients is associated with increased IL-18 during natural pollen exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanism of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is not certain in seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the effects of natural pollen exposure on IL-18 and its relationship with BHR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two SAR patients with grass pollen sensitivity, 14 nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) patients and 17 normal-controls were included. Sixteen SAR patients had BHR during pollen season and off-season. Serum IL-18 levels were measured in SAR patients during pollen season between May-August and off-season between November-February. IL-18 levels were measured in NAR patients and normal controls once.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During pollen season, SAR patients with BHR had significantly increased levels of IL-18 than those without BHR (279.2 ± 161.1 versus 145.3 ± 101.0 pg/ml, p=0.012). Serum IL-18 levels were not different between SAR patients with and without BHR during off-season (233.8 ± 139.7 versus 183.2 ± 162.9 pg/ml, p=0.16). Serum IL-18 levels in SAR patients during pollen season (212.3 ± 148.8 pg/ml) and off-season (208.5 ± 151.5 pg/ml) were not different than those NAR patients (224.8 ± 180.1 pg/ml, p=0.98 and p=1.0, respectively) and normal controls (174.8 ± 76.0 pg/ml, p=0.60 and p=0.76, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested us that BHR in SAR patients is associated with increased IL-18 during natural pollen exposure.
authors: Departments of Allergy, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Turkey. dremelkurt@yahoo.com
authors: Emel
authors: E
authors: Kurt
authors: Kurtuluş
authors: K
authors: Aksu
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Dokumacioglu
authors: Ozkan
authors: O
authors: Alatas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18