Changes in nasal symptoms inflammatory cells over the course of perennial allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Nasal symptoms and inflammatory cells changes over the course of perennial allergic rhinitis have been analyzed only rarely. We studied nasal symptoms, nasal physical findings, and laboratory data in five groups, which consisted of varying time periods during the course of perennial allergic rhinitis (3 years). The tissue density of mast cells in the epithelial layer and of eosinophils and CD4+ T cells in the subepithelial layer did differ between the two groups. These results indicate that perennial allergic rhinitis goes through a transition stage from onset to a few years, and thereafter becomes a chronic condition. Mast cells, eosinophils, and CD4+ T cells may be associated with ongoing allergic inflammation.

Keywords

• CD4+ T cells
• eosinophils
• mast cells
• nasal findings
• nasal mucosa
• nasal symptoms
• perennial allergic rhinitis
• 9 December 1997