The use of specific immunoglobulin E in nasal secretions for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

Objective Although local specific immunoglobulin (sIgE) has been employed as a diagnostic criterion for allergic rhinitis (AR), the use of local sIgE has not been fully evaluated in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of nasal secretion sIgE in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Methods A total of 51 patients (27 males and 24 females, mean age = 33.3 years) with rhinitis symptoms were enrolled consecutively from the allergy‐rhinology clinic of Beijing TongRen Hospital (Beijing, People's Republic of China). Questionnaires were completed by each participant at recruitment to record demographic data, nasal symptom severity, and physician‐diagnosed comorbid asthma. The severity of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal/eye itching was recorded according to a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 10 cm. Sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae , mugwort, Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Alternaria, Cladosporium , and Aspergillus were assessed according to presence of sIgE antibodies to these allergens in serum and nasal secretions. Results VAS scores of the participants ranged from 11 to 25 (mean = 17), and 14 (27.5%) patients had comorbid asthma. Based on serum sIgE, 31 (60.8%) patients were allergic to mugwort, 14 (27.5%) to Dermatophagoides , and three (5.9%) to fungal allergens. Based on nasal secretion sIgE, 32 (62.7%) patients were allergic to mugwort, 12 (23.5%) to Dermatophagoides , and three (5.9%) to fungal allergens. The local mugwort sIgE level and serum mugwort sIgE level were positively correlated with each other and with VAS scores. Conclusion sIgE level in nasal secretions of subjects with rhinitis is a reliable noninvasive alternative to serum sIgE for diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope , 128:E311–E315, 2018