Prevalence of paranasal sinus pathology and its relationship with serum eosinophil and IgE levels in asthmatic patients

Year 2001, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 9 - 12, 01.04.2001

Fisun Karadağ Orhan Çildağ Canan Pirim Murat Çam Handan Türkan

Abstract

To evaluate the prevalence of paranasal sinus pathology and investigate the relationship of sinusoidal
mucosal inflammation with serum eosinophilia and IgE levels in asthmatic outpatients.
Following the medical history and physical examination, we evaluated sinus x-rays (Water's graphy)
in 82 asthmatic outpatients. Pulmonary function tests were performed with a dry spirometer. Serum eosinophil
percentage was determined using a hemocounter and serum total IgE level by nephelometric technique.
Statistical analyses were done by X-square, t-test and correlation tests.
The mean age of patients was 42.82 13.28 years and 74% were women. Duration of asthma was
7.50 7.36 years. 82% of patients were symptomatic for asthma during evaluation. Mean FEV1 was 1.98 0.69L
and FEV1/FVC was 66 14%. Serum total IgE level was 137.85 147.53 IU/ml while eosinophil percentage was
found to be 4.05 3.72. Water's graphy was normal in 44 of the patients (53.6%). At least one of radiological
findings of sinusitis was detected in 38 of the cases (46.4%). There was maxillary sinus mucosal thickening in
35.4%, air-fluid level in 14.6% and polyp-cyst in 6.1%.There was no correlation between paranasal sinus
pathology and duration of asthma (p=0.065) or severity of asthma (FEV1%) (p=0.856). There was no difference
in eosinophil levels between asthmatic patients who had a paranasal sinus pathology and the ones who did not
(p=0.832). Although mean serum IgE level was higher in patients with sinusitis, statistically significant
difference was not detected (p=0.968).
Proper management of sinusitis may improve asthmatic symptoms and decrease need for
medication.We suggest that asthmatic patients should be searched routinely for the presence of occult sinusitis.

Keywords

Asthma, sinusitis, Water's graphy, serum total IgE, eosinophilia

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