Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Asthma and allergic rhinitis may present concomitantly and have similar clinical presentations, in accordance with the ‘one airway hypothesis’. Pathologically both induce an inflammatory response mediated by eosinophils, mast cells, T cells and cells of monocytic lineage. Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the correlation between peripheral eosinophilia and severity of nasobronchial allergy by symptom score assessment and spirometric evaluation. Methodology: 108 patients diagnosed with nasobronchial allergy were evaluated with questionnaire to assess symptom scores for asthma and nasal & non nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis and subject to spirometry. Results: Elevated blood eosinophil counts was demonstrated amongst both males and females. A direct correlation was found between the symptom severity score for both allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms with peripheral eosinophilia. Inverse correlation was found between the total blood eosinophil count and spirometric assessment of lung function by FEV1/FVC, FEV1 and FVC. Conclusion: Peripheral blood eosinophilia is an useful parameter which may be used to assess indirectly the symptom severity and lung function in patients with nasobronchial allergy.

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