BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is considered a strong risk factor for the onset of asthma. However, few studies addressed this issue from a functional point of view. The aim of this study was to follow up a group of patients with allergic rhinitis to investigate the onset of possible spirometric abnormalities and/or bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR). METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with moderate-severe persistent allergic rhinitis were prospectively and consecutively evaluated; 940 controls were also included in the study. Clinical examination, skin-prick test, spirometry, and methacholine challenge were performed in all patients every 2 years for 8 years. RESULTS: The number of patients with forced expiratory flow at 25 and 75% of pulmonary volume of <70% of predicted significantly increased during the observation time. At baseline, no subjects had BHR; whereas 34 patients had BHR after 8 years. Sensitization to mites, birch, and Parietaria as well as rhinitis duration are risk factors for these changes. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the close link between upper and lower airways and suggests that spirometry should be performed in patients with allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND:Allergic rhinitis is considered a strong risk factor for the onset of asthma. However, few studies addressed this issue from a functional point of view. The aim of this study was to follow up a group of patients with allergic rhinitis to investigate the onset of possible spirometric abnormalities and/or bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR). METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with moderate-severe persistent allergic rhinitis were prospectively and consecutively evaluated; 940 controls were also included in the study. Clinical examination, skin-prick test, spirometry, and methacholine challenge were performed in all patients every 2 years for 8 years. RESULTS: The number of patients with forced expiratory flow at 25 and 75% of pulmonary volume of <70% of predicted significantly increased during the observation time. At baseline, no subjects had BHR; whereas 34 patients had BHR after 8 years. Sensitization to mites, birch, and Parietaria as well as rhinitis duration are risk factors for these changes. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the close link between upper and lower airways and suggests that spirometry should be performed in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Authors: C Cingi; P Gevaert; R Mösges; C Rondon; V Hox; M Rudenko; N B Muluk; G Scadding; F Manole; C Hupin; W J Fokkens; C Akdis; C Bachert; P Demoly; J Mullol; A Muraro; N Papadopoulos; R Pawankar; P Rombaux; E Toskala; L Kalogjera; E Prokopakis; P W Hellings; J Bousquet Journal: Clin Transl Allergy Date: 2017-06-01 Impact factor: 5.871