Alper Yenigun1, Ahmet Elbay2, Abdullah Ozdem1, Remzi Dogan1, Orhan Ozturan1
1: Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
2: Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Introduction: Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease caused by the development of IgE in the rhino-ocular mucosa due to allergens.
Objective: This study was planned to demonstrate in patients with allergic rhinitis to evaluate changes in tear, nasal secretions and blood osmolarity compared to healthy individuals.
Methods:
Study Design: This study was planned as a case-control.
Setting: Tertiary Referral Center
Patients: Forty allergic rhinitis patients, 25 patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections and 26 healthy subjects were included in the study. Positive patients with allergic symptoms and skin prick test results were included in the allergic rhinitis group. Tear, nasal secretion and blood osmolarity values were examined for the three groups.
Intervention: Diagnostic
Discussion:
Main Outcome Measures: Significant dry eye findings were observed in allergic rhinitis patients.
Results: In patients with allergic rhinitis; tear and nasal secretion osmolarity values were significantly higher in patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections and healthy subjects (p = 0.001, p = 0.038). In blood osmolarity measurements; there was no statistical difference between the groups (p = 0.489). In patients with allergic rhinitis; (p = 0.001, p = 0.001), Schirmer test results were significantly shorter than patients who had acute upper respiratory tract infection and healthy subjects. Patients with allergic rhinitis and acute upper respiratory tract infections had significantly shorter Schirmer test results than in healthy subjects (p = 0.001, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: In the presence of allergic rhinitis, nasal secretions were found more hyperosmolar than tears. Therefore dry nose can be defined in the presence of allergic rhinitis.