BACKGROUND: Eosinophil inflammation is present in nasal and bronchial mucosa and a clear link between upper and lower airways exists. Our aim was to evaluate whether nasal inflammation correlates with lung function in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis associated with asthma. METHODS: Eighty perennial allergic rhinitics with mild asthma, aged from 18 to 46 years, were enrolled. Nasal scraping and spirometry were performed in all subjects. RESULTS: A close relationship between the nasal eosinophil number and the percentage of predicted FEV1 was demonstrated (r = -0.76; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Nasal cytology may be considered a non-invasive tool to assess airway inflammation in mild asthmatics with associated allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND: Eosinophil inflammation is present in nasal and bronchial mucosa and a clear link between upper and lower airways exists. Our aim was to evaluate whether nasal inflammation correlates with lung function in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis associated with asthma. METHODS: Eighty perennial allergic rhinitics with mild asthma, aged from 18 to 46 years, were enrolled. Nasal scraping and spirometry were performed in all subjects. RESULTS: A close relationship between the nasal eosinophil number and the percentage of predicted FEV1 was demonstrated (r = -0.76; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Nasal cytology may be considered a non-invasive tool to assess airway inflammation in mild asthmatics with associated allergic rhinitis.