Colonización por hongos ambientales en el paciente alérgico respiratorio no controlado / Colonization by environmental fungi in the uncontrolled respiratory allergic patient

Introducción: La presencia de hongos en las vías respiratorias puede provocar en personas susceptibles diversas manifestaciones alérgicas. Objetivo: Determinar si las especies fúngicas aisladas de la mucosa nasal de pacientes alérgicos respiratorios pueden ser definidas como alergenos sensibilizantes a través de las pruebas cutáneas. Métodos: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y de corte transversal, donde el universo estuvo constituido por todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de alergia respiratoria o inicio de asma bronquial variable descompensada, mayores de 2 años y menores de19,que se asistieron en las consultas de alergia en La Habana, desde enero 2016 a enero 2017. La muestra obtenida fue de 80 pacientes alérgicos respiratorios. Resultados: Del total de pacientes con clínica de asma, rinitis o ambas, se obtuvieron pruebas cutáneas por el test de Prick positivas a hongos en 52 de ellos (65 por ciento) con una polisensibilización en 24 para 46,1 por ciento. La reactividad cruzada de mayor relevancia se produjo con los alérgenos de Aspergillus, Penicillium y Alternaria. El cultivo resultó positivo en 54 muestras nasales (67 por ciento). El género de hongos predominante en los pacientes alérgicos fue el Aspergillus en 70,3 por ciento y dentro de este el Aspergillus fumigatus en 52,6 por ciento. Conclusiones: El estudio de la micobiota nasal es una prueba que debe interpretarse junto con las pruebas cutáneas para el diagnóstico de enfermedades alérgicas por hongos ambientales y tener en cuenta su importancia para el control epidemiológico en la exposición a hongos(AU)

Introduction: The presence of fungi in the respiratory tract can cause different allergic manifestations in sensitive persons. Objective: To determine if fungi species isolated from the nasal mucosa of respiratory allergic patients can be defined as allergen-sensitive by means of skin tests. Methods: Observational, prospective and cross-sectional study, where the overall sample consisted of all patients with a diagnosis of respiratory allergy or onset of decompensated variable bronchial asthma, over 2 years old and under 19 years old who attended to Allergy consultations in Havana, from January 2016 to January 2017. The sample obtained was 80 respiratory allergic patients. Results: Of the total number of patients with symptoms of clinical asthma, rhinitis or both, Prick´s skin tests were obtained by fungal positive test in 52 of them (65 percent) with a polysensitization in 24 (46.1 percent). The most relevant cross reactivity occurred with the allergens of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Alternaria. The culture was positive in 54 nasal samples (67 percent). The predominant fungal genus in allergic patients was Aspergillus in 70.3 percent and within this Aspergillus fumigatus in 52.6 percent. Conclusions: The study of nasal mycobiota is a test that should be interpreted together with skin tests for the diagnosis of allergic diseases due to environmental fungi and it must be taken into account its importance for epidemiological control in fungal exposure(AU)

Effect of cigarette smoke on counts of immunoreactive cells to eotaxin-1 and eosinophils on the nasal mucosa in young patients with perennial allergic rhinitis / Efeito do tabagismo nas contagens de células imunorreativas a eotaxina-1 e eosinófilos na mucosa nasal em pacientes jovens com rinite alérgica perene

Abstract Introduction: In teenagers with perennial allergic rhinitis, exposure to tobacco cigarette smoke increases the count of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa; the recruitment of eosinophils arises from the combined action of a number of cellular and molecular signals, including eotaxin. Objective: To assess the effect of exposure to tobacco cigarette smoke on the count of immunoreactive cells to eotaxin-1 and eosinophils on the nasal mucosa of children and teenagers with perennial allergic rhinitis. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, forty-four patients were evaluated (aged 7-19 years old): 22 with and 22 with no exposure to tobacco cigarette smoke. After replying to 2 validated questionnaires, on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood and on the severity of nasal symptoms, nasal mucosal samples were obtained by scraping the middle one-third of the inferior turbinates. Then counts of immunoreactive cells to eotaxin-1 and eosinophils were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Patients with exposure to tobacco cigarette smoke showed higher cell counts of both eotaxin-1 and eosinophils than patients with no exposure to the smoke, with no correlation between the two variables. However, both counts, of eotaxin-1 and eosinophils, were related to the cotinine/creatinine ratio. Conclusions: Exposure to tobacco cigarette smoke can increase eotaxin-1 and the count of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa of young patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.

Resumo Introdução: Em adolescentes com rinite alérgica perene, a exposição à fumaça do cigarro de tabaco aumenta a contagem de eosinófilos na mucosa nasal. O recrutamento de eosinófilos surge da ação combinada de alguns sinais celulares e moleculares, inclusive a eotaxina. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da exposição à fumaça do cigarro de tabaco na contagem de células imunorreativas a eotaxina-1 e eosinófilos na mucosa nasal de crianças e adolescentes com rinite alérgica perene. Método: Em um estudo transversal, 44 pacientes foram avaliados (entre sete e 19 anos): 22 com e 22 sem exposição à fumaça do cigarro de tabaco. Depois de responder a dois questionários validados, sobre asma e alergias na infância e sobre a gravidade dos sintomas nasais, as amostras de mucosa nasal foram obtidas por meio de raspagem do terço médio das conchas inferiores. Em seguida, as contagens de células imunorreativas para eotaxina-1 e eosinófilos foram avaliadas por imuno-histoquímica. Resultados: Os pacientes com exposição à fumaça do cigarro de tabaco apresentaram contagens de células mais elevadas tanto para eotaxina-1 como para eosinófilos em comparação com os pacientes sem exposição à fumaça, sem correlação entre as duas variáveis. No entanto, ambas as contagens, de eotaxina-1 e eosinófilos foram relacionadas com a razão cotinina/creatinina. Conclusões: A exposição à fumaça do cigarro de tabaco pode aumentar a eotaxina-1 e a contagem de eosinófilos na mucosa nasal de pacientes jovens com rinite alérgica perene.

Association of nasal inflammation and lower airway responsiveness in schoolchildren based on an epidemiological survey

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We sought to increase our understanding of the rhinitis-asthma relationship and improve strategies for the treatment of patients with these diseases. The aim of this study was to identify a connection between upper airway inflammation and lower airway responsiveness. METHODS: We counted eosinophils on nasal smears, and performed spirometry, allergic skin tests, and methacholine challenge tests in 308 schoolchildren plus a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. The methacholine concentration causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (PC20 0.05). No difference in BHR was detected when comparing subjects with and without nasal eosinophils. There were significant differences in the PC20 between subjects with greater than 50% nasal eosinophils and without nasal eosinophils (11.01 +/- 2.92 mg/mL vs. 17.38 +/- 0.61 mg/mL; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that nasal eosinophilic inflammation might contribute to lower airway responsiveness in schoolchildren, based on an epidemiological survey.

Downregulation of Orai1 expression in the airway alleviates murine allergic rhinitis

Orai1 is the key subunit of the Ca2+-release-activated Ca2+ channel. Our previous report has demonstrated that Orai1 expression in the airway was upregulated in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) mouse models. To observe whether inhibition of Orai1 expression in the airway could suppress symptoms in a murine model of AR and to assess the impacts of this inhibition on the responses of local and systemic immunocytes, we administered recombinant lentivirus vectors that encoded shRNA against ORAI1 (lenti-ORAI1) into the nostrils of OVA-sensitized mice before the challenges, and analyzed its effect on allergic responses, as compared with the unsensitized mice and untreated AR mice. Administration of lenti-ORAI1 into the nasal cavity successfully infected cells in the epithelial layer of the nasal mucosa, and significantly decreased the frequencies of sneezing and nasal rubbing of the mice. Protein levels of leukotriene C4, OVA-specific IgE, and IL-4 in the nasal lavage fluid and serum and eosinophil cation protein in the serum were also significantly reduced by lenti-ORAI1, as were the mRNA levels of these factors in the nasal mucosa and spleen. These data suggested that administration of lenti-ORAI1 into the nasal cavity effectively decreased Orai1 expression in the nasal mucosa, alleviated AR symptoms, and partially inhibited the hyperresponsiveness of the local and systemic immune cells including T cells, B cells, mast cells and eosinophils that are involved in the pathogenesis of AR.

La mucosa nasal como vía y fuente para la medicina regenerativa / Nasal mucosa as pathway and source for regenerative medicine

Se mencionan los pilares fundamentales que sustentan a la medicina regenerativa y se señala que de ellos, sin lugar a dudas, el que más ha avanzado es el representado por las células madre, en particular las adultas, que de manera progresiva se han ido extendiendo en la práctica clínica. Se destaca que recién se ha explorado la mucosa nasal como una vía útil y sencilla para el acceso al organismo de elementos potencialmente útiles en la medicina regenerativa, y también como fuente de células madre con posibilidades de introducción en el área clínica. Se comentan las características fundamentales de la mucosa nasal, se mencionan algunos medicamentos que se han usado a través de la ruta intranasal y se refiere la posibilidad de usar esta vía para la administración de células madre que puedan ejercer sus acciones sobre el sistema nervioso central. Estos datos se complementan con los promisorios resultados que se han obtenido con el trasplante de células procedentes de la mucosa nasal

The fundamental pillars of the regenerative medicine were set forth in this paper. One of the most advanced is undoubtedly the field of stem cells, particularly adult stem cells, which has progressively spread into the clinical practice. It was underlined that the nasal mucosa has been recently explored as a useful simple pathway through which the potentially useful elements of regenerative medicine may have access to the body; and also as a source of stem cells with possibilities of being introduced in the clinical area. Comments were made on the fundamental characteristics of the nasal mucosa; some drugs that have been administered through intranasal route were mentioned together with the possibility of using this pathway for stem cells that might have their impact on the central nervous system. All these data were completed with the promising results of transplantation of stem cells from the nasal mucosa

Estudo da mucosa nasal de contatos de hanseníase, com positividade para o antígeno glicolipídio fenólico 1 / Nasal mucosa study of leprosy contacts with positive serology for the phenolic glycolipid 1 antigen

A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa de evolução crônica causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae que acomete com maior frequência a mucosa nasal. Esse acometimento independe da forma clínica da doença e pode ocorrer mesmo antes do aparecimento de lesões na pele ou em outras partes do corpo. Faz-se necessário a vigilância epidemiológica dos contatos de casos novos de hanseníase para o diagnóstico precoce da doença. OBJETIVOS: Identificar lesões específicas e precoces de hanseníase por meio de exame endoscópico, baciloscópico, histopatológico e da reação em cadeia da polimerase em Tempo Real da mucosa das cavidades nasais dos contatos domiciliares e peridomiciliares com sorologia positiva para o antígeno glicolipídio fenólico. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo transversal em 31 contatos de pacientes de hanseníase com sorologia positiva (PGL-1), 05 controles negativos e 01 positivo no período de 2003 a 2006. RESULTADOS: Entre os contatos soropositivos a PCR-RT foi positiva para a presença de DNA de M. leprae em 06 (19,35 por cento) destes e o maior número de cópias do genoma do bacilo foi encontrado no contato que adoeceu. CONCLUSÃO: Isoladamente os exames da mucosa nasal não permitiram o diagnóstico precoce da hanseníase, mas com a combinação de vários métodos, o exame dos contatos pôde ajudar na identificação da infecção subclínica e monitoramento daqueles que poderiam ter papel importante na transmissão da doença.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The disease more frequently affects the nasal mucosa and can occur independently of its clinical form or even before lesions on the skin or on other parts of the body. It is necessary to employ epidemiological surveillance of household contacts with new leprosy cases for early disease diagnosis. AIM: identify specific and early leprosy lesions through endoscopic, baciloscopy, histopathology exams, and real time polymerase chain reaction of the nasal cavity mucosa on household and peridomiciliary contacts with positive serology for the phenolic glycolipid 1 antigen. METHODOLOGY: Between 2003 at 2006 there was a prospective cross-sectional clinical study with 31 contacts with patients with leprosy with positive serology against PGL-1, 05 negative controls and 01 positive control. RESULTS: Between seropositive contacts, real-time PCR was positive for M. leprae DNA in 06 (19.35 percent) of them and the higher number of genome copies were found in contacts who became sick. CONCLUSION: Nasal mucosa tests alone did not enable the early diagnosis of Leprosy. However, through the combination of various methods, tests on the contacts can help identify subclinical infection and monitor the contacts that could be responsible for spreading the disease.

Análise de citocinas pela RT-PCR em pacientes com rinite alérgica / RT-PCR cytokine study in patients with allergic rhinitis

Rinite alérgica é uma doença que decorre de um processo inflamatório da mucosa nasal conseqüente à reação de hipersensibilidade a alérgenos inalatórios e, eventualmente, alimentares. É mediada por IgE, envolvendo diferentes células, mediadores e citocinas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar as transcrições para as seguintes citocinas: IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 e IFN-gama, particularmente importantes no processo alérgico nasal, principalmente IL-4 e IL-5. Neste estudo, optou-se por avaliar os pacientes atópicos fora das crises alérgicas, com a finalidade de se conhecer as expressões das citocinas neste período. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Realizou-se um estudo transversal e prospectivo, selecionando-se 30 pacientes, sendo 13 pacientes portadores de rinite alérgica paucissintomáticos e 17 pacientes não-atópicos. Os grupos foram selecionados através da história, do exame clínico otorrinolaringológico e do teste alérgico cutâneo - Prick Test. O perfil das citocinas foi pesquisado nos fragmentos de mucosa nasal, através da RT-PCR semiquantitativa, escolhida por apresentar boa reprodutibilidade e especificidade, utilizando-se como referência o gene da Beta-actina. RESULTADOS: Os valores de IL-5, IL-8, IFN-gama mantiveram-se homogêneos em relação ao grupo controle. A IL-4 apresentou diferença com significância estatística. CONCLUSÃO: Os pacientes alérgicos paucissintomáticos apresentaram normalização da expressão das citocinas na mucosa nasal à exceção de IL-4.

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory reaction of the nasal mucosa, in consequence of an IgE mediated hypersensitive reaction to inhaling allergens, involving different mediators and cytokine cells. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the transcriptions for IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 and IFN-gama, particularly important in the nasal allergy process, especially IL-4 and IL-5. For this study we decided to evaluate atopic patients who were free from allergic crises, with the purpose of knowing the cytokine expressions during this period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Another prospective and transversal study was carried out, selecting 30 patients, 13 of these patients were pauci-symptomatic and 17 were non atopic. The groups were selected by means of a medical interview, an otolaryngologic clinical exam and allergy skin tests - Prick Test. The cytokines were investigated in fragments of the nasal mucosa, using RT-PCR - chosen because it has good reproducibility and specificity. RESULTS: IL-5, IL-8, IFN-gama cytokine values were kept homogeneous in relation to the control group. Only IL-4 presented significant statistic differences. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic patients with allergic rhinitis presented with normalization of cytokine expression in the nasal mucosa, with exception of IL-4.

Imunofluorescência para neuropeptídeos na mucosa nasal humana: avaliacão de técnica para peptídeo intestinal vasoativo (VIP) / Neuropeptide immunofluorescence in human nasal mucosa: assessment of the technique for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)

Os neuropeptídeos são neurotransmissores relevantes na fisiologia nasal e o conhecimento crescente acerca de seu papel na fisiopatologia de doencas nasais abre novas perspectivas. A sua investigacão na mucosa nasal humana baseia-se em grande parte em marcacão imunológica, método complexo e sujeito a inúmeros fatores de erro. Com o intuito de viabilizar este tipo de pesquisa em nosso meio, um método de imunofluorescência para peptídeo intestinal vasoativo (VIP) na mucosa nasal humana é proposto e avaliado. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Oito pacientes submetidos a cirurgia funcional do nariz têm um fragmento de mucosa coletado da concha inferior. O tecido foi fixado em solucão de Zamboni (paraformaldeído 4 por cento tamponado e ácido pícrico 0,4 por cento), congelado em nitrogênio líquido e armazenado. Cortes de 14 æm foram realizados e submetidos à reacão de imunofluorescência para VIP (Península Laboratories). As imagens microscópicas foram documentadas em fotografia convencional. A especificidade, sensibilidade e reprodutibilidade de execucão foram avaliadas. A reprodutibilidade de interpretacão de resultados foi avaliada através da comparacão de graus de marcacão (0 a 4) atribuídos às fotos por seis observadores. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram ser o método suficientemente específico, sensível, além de reprodutível em sua execucão. A interpretacão de resultados mostrou depender do perfeito esclarecimento do observador no julgamento das imagens de imunofluorescência, mas mostrou uniformidade. CONCLUSAO: O método proposto foi considerado útil na pesquisa de neuropeptídeos na mucosa nasal humana.

Examination of the distribution of mast cells in the nasal mucosa of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis

It is known that mast cells play an important role in pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. In this study, we investigated the distribution of mast cells in the nasal mucosa of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis during the pollen-season. This study was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Turkey, during the grass-pollen season between, March and July in 2002. Twenty patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis [12 females and 8 males] and 20 healthy [10 females and 10 males] non-allergic controls were examined for the distribution and abundance of mast cells in nasal biopsies. Biopsies were performed in all patients and controls, once during natural provocation in the spring and were taken from the lower edge of the inferior turbinate using a forceps. The samples of nasal mucosa were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formaline, stained with 0.5% aqueous toluidine blue and hematoxylin and eosin were examined under a light microscope. Mast cells were observed in the nasal mucosa obtained from 12 patients [60%] and 5 patients [25%] controls cases [p=0.025]. It was found out that intrapitelial mast cells are present in nasal mucosa samples of patients with SAR [seasonal allergic rhinitis] but not in the epithelium of non-allergic controls. The number of submucosal mast cells has considerably increased in the nasal mucosa samples of patients with SAR. Besides this, these cells are determined in great amounts in non-allergic individuals

Evaluation of HLA-DR antigen expression and CD4 T helper cells in normal respiratory nasal epithelium and nasal polyp

The objective of this study was to evaluate human leucocyte antigen-DR [HLA-DR] expression in nasalpolyp epithelium compared with their surrounding normal nasal mucosa as well as activated T helper cells [CD4 positive] in order to obtain a clue concerning the immunological mechanisms that are possibly relevant to the nasal polyp pathogenesis. By means of immunohistochemical methods, samples from 16 patients with nasal polyps were investigated. The histomorphologic analysis revealed nonallergic nasal in 12 cases, while allergic polyps in only 4 cases. Epithelial changes were observed in 10 of both allergic and nonallergic polyp types. They included epithelial hyperplasia [four cases], goblet metaplasia [two cases] and squamous metaplasia [four cases]. Nasal polyps with average normal epithelial thickness were present in six cases. HLA-DR antigen molecules were significantly highly expressed in the normal respiratory nasal epithelial cells as well as in nasal polyps with an average normal epithelial thickness. However, they significantly reduced in nasal polyps associated with epithelial hyperplasia, goblet cell metaplasia and squamous cell metaplasia. On the other hand, submucosal inflammatory cells exhibited a high expression of HLA-DR in nasal polyps versus normal submucosa. The activated T helper cells [CD4 positive] were increased in nasal polyps versus normal nasal mucosa, with no significant difference between allergic and nonallergic polyps

The mucosal adjuvanticity of two nontoxic mutants of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin varies with immunization routes

Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), which causes a characteristic diarrhea in humans and animals, is a strong mucosal immunogen and has powerful mucosal adjuvant activity towards coadministered unrelated antigens. Here we report the different mucosal adjuvanticity of nontoxic LT derivatives, LTS63Y and LTdelta110/112, generated by immunizing through two different mucosal routes. Intragastric (IG) immunization with Helicobacter pylori urease alone resulted in poor systemic IgG and IgA responses and no detectable local secretory IgA, but IG co-immunization with urease and LTdelta110/112 induced high titers of urease-specific local secretory IgA and systemic IgG and IgA, comparable to those induced by wild-type LT. LTS63Y showed far lower adjuvant activity towards urease than LTdelta110/112 in IG immunization, but was more active than LTdelta110/112 in inducing immune responses to urease by intranasal (IN) immunization. LTdelta110/112 predominantly enhanced the induction of urease-specific IgG1 levels following IG immunization, whereas LTS63Y induced high levels of IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b following IN immunization. In addition, quantitative H. pylori culture of stomach tissue following challenge with H. pylori demonstrated a 90-95% reduction (p < 0.0002) in bacterial burden in mice immunized intranasally with urease using either mutant LT as an adjuvant. These results indicate that the mechanism(s) underlying the adjuvant activities of mutant LTs towards coadmnistered H. pylori urease may differ between the IN and IG mucosal immunization routes.

Utilidad diagnóstica de las pruebas cutáneas rast enzimático y determinación de eosinófilos en moco nasal en la rinitis alérgica / Diagnosis utility in skin and enzymatic tests in the nasal mucous

Antecedentes: la rinitis alérgica es la enfermedad más común mediada por inmunoglobulina E (IgE). El reto nasal es el estándar de oro para el diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica. Las pruebas cutáneas (PC) son el método diagnóstico más utilizado para detectar la presencia de la IgE específica unida a mastocitos de la piel. La exposición de la mucosa nasal al alergeno es seguida de un incremento en los eosinófilos locales; la determinación de eosinófilos en el moco nasal (DEMN) es una prueba diagnóstica de la rinitis alérgica. El RAST enzimático o prueba enzimática. Alergoabsorbente (EAST) determina el nivel de IgE específica de alergeno presente en suero. Objetivo: medir la sensibilidad, especificidad y exactitud diagnóstica de las pruebas cutáneas, la EAST y la DEMN en la rinitis alérgica. Material y método: se estudiaron 241 sujetos, 162 casos con rinitis alérgica y 79 controles. Fueron objeto de retos nasales y pruebas cutáneas intradérmicas y Dermatophagoides spp (ácaro), Fraxinus americana (fresno), Amaranthus palmeri (quelite), Cynodon dactylon (capriola) y Felis catus (gato), EAST para Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (ácaro) y DEMN. Los resultados de las Pc, EAST y DEMN se compararon con los retos nasales correspondientes, y se determinó la prevalencia de rinitis alérgica a cada alergeno, se estimó el mejor punto de corte por medio de curvas operador receptos (ROC) y de acuerdo con el mejor punto de corte se determinó la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo y negativo, coeficiente de concordancia interobservador, el área bajo la curva ROC (q), el error estándar de q (SEO) y el intervalo de confianza de 95 por ciento de q de cada prueba evaluada. Resultados. Las mejores sensibilidades y especificidades las presentaron las pruebas cutáneas y la EAST, la sensibilidad y especificidad más bajas DEMN. Conclusión. Para el diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica por Dermatophagoides spp las pruebas cutáneas para Dermatophagoides spp y la EAST para Derma-tophagoides pteronyssinus tiene la misma exactitud diagnóstica. Según los índices de exactitud diagnóstica y el coeficiente de concordancia interobservador, las pruebas cutáneas y la EAST son útiles para el diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica inducida por los alergenos evaluados y la DEMN es de poca utilidad para el diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica

Papel de la alergia a alimentos en la rinitis alérgica perenne / Role of the food allergy in the perennial allergic rhinitis

La rinitis alérgica perenne afecta aproximadamente del 15 por ciento a 20 por ciento de los pacientes con rinitis alérgica, su alta morbilidad ocasiona pérdida de muchos días de escuela. La etiología de ésta son los alergenos intradomiciliarios, pólenes, hongos, polvo casero, animales domésticos y alimentos. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar las pruebas cutáneas por método de punción en los pacientes con rinitis alérgica perenne para determinar la etiología de este padecimiento en nuestra población. Realizamos un estudio prospectivo y descriptivo con 50 niños de 6 a 16 años de edad con diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica perenne, se les realizaron pruebas cutáneas a los inhalantes y alimentos más frecuentes en nuestro país, se midió la IgE sérica total por la técnica de ELISA y se les realizó citología nasal. El análisis estadístico se realizó por las pruebas de U Mann Whitney y Kruskal-Wallis. Nuestros resultados fueron de 8 pacientes (16 por ciento) tuvieron pruebas cutáneas positivas sólo a alimentos (mariscos, pescado y cacahuate entre los más frecuentes), 29 pacientes (58 por ciento) para inhalantes (dermatofagoides y cucaracha entre los más frecuentes) y 13 pacientes (26 por ciento) para ambos, alimentos e inhalantes. La IgE sérica total se encontró incrementada y la citología nasal fue positiva, con mayor frecuencia en los pacientes con pruebas cutáneas positivas a alimentos. Concluimos que 16 por ciento de los pacientes tuvieron pruebas cutáneas positivas sólo para alimentos y que en combinación con inhalantes esto se incrementa en más del 40 por ciento por lo que debemos de estar conscientes de la alergia alimentaria en estos pacientes

Eosinofilia nasal posterior al reto específico en pacientes con rinitis alérgica perenne / Nasal eosinophilia after the perenial allergic rinithis

Se estudió a 35 pacientes con respuesta alérgica perenne para conocer la eosinofilia después del reto nasal con antigeno especifíco. Los pacientes se seleccionaron al azar. A todos se les realizó historia clínica, pruebas cutáneas y cuantificación de eosinófilos en la mucosa nasal a la media hora y a las ocho horas después del reto con alergeno de Dermatophagoides. Los resultados mostraron aumento significativo de eosinófilos después del reto (p.006). No se observaron diferencias significativas en el número de eosinófilos a la media hora y a las ocho horas después del reto

Deteccion de inmunocomplejos en mucosa nasal de pacientes con bloqueo nasal cronico y permanente

Se estudiaron 30 pacientes con problemas rinológicos en los que el síntoma fundamental fue el "Bloqueo Nasal Permanente". Se comprobó que los mismos presentaban un B.N.C.T. y P., que es la entidad definida por nosotros como una obstrucción permanente y crónica de las fosas nasales y que sería la expresión clínica, an tomo patológica e immunológica terminal de una "Rinitis Crónica" que conlleva una Insuficiencia Respiratoria Nasal Crónica. Estos "respiradores bucales" presentaban síntomas fundamentales: sequedad de garganta, ronquidos nocturnos, resonancia nasal de la voz, con alteraciones en los órganos de la audición y del olfato; transtornos mec nicos y secundarios derivados del respirar por la boca bajo la forma de faringitis, laringitis. bronquitis, exacerbaciones del asma bronquial y tendencia al enfisema; distrofias en el esqueleto facial; disminución de la capacidad intelectual, irritabilidad, falta de concentración, transtornos de la función cardiovascular (extrasístoloes, variaciones en la presión arterial). Fueron adolescentes y adultos jóvenes, en los que las causas alérgicas e infecciosas dominaron la etiología, demonstrada por los antecedentes alérgicos familiares y personales de atropia, pruebas intradérmicas inmediatas positivas para aeroalergenos y bacterias, y corroborada por un aumento de la IgE y eosinófilos en sangre. Como métodos de diagnóstico para confirmar el B.N.C.T. y P. se usaron: radiografías y tomografias lineales; rinomanometrias y rinofibrolaringoscopías. Los hallazgos anatomopatológicos obtenidos por biopsia nasal fueron contundentes: gran infiltrado linfomonocitario alrededor de arteriolas y vénulas; signos de vasculitis en un alto porcentaje, lo que estimuló la búsqueda de inmunocomplejos. La presencia de inmunocomplejos positivos alrededor de los vasos confirmó el curso "desfavorable" de estas rinitis, aportando progresos en el enfoque fisiopatológico, diagnóstico y en el manejo terapéutico del B.N.C.T. y P.

Perfil de inmunoglobulinas (Ig) séricas e inmunoglobulinas A secretora (IgA) en pacientes con bloqueo nasal crónico total y permanente (B.N.C.T.y P.) / Profile of serical immunoglobulin (Ig) and secretoral A immunoglobulin (IgA) in patients with total and permanent chronic nasal blockage (TPCNB)

Objetivo: determinar Igs en suero y secreciones de pacientes con bloque nasal crónico total y permanente (B.N.C.T. y P.)a fin de correlacionar estos datos con los hallazgos clínicos y anatomopatológicos. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron 17 pacientes de ambos sexos de 11 a 30 años. Se realizó estudio anatomopatológico de biopsias de mucosa nasal. Resultados: IgG: 11,76 por ciento disminuida. IgA sérica: normal en todos los pacientes, IgA en saliva: 64,7 por ciento disminuida y en un caso, no detectable. IgA en moco nasal: 35,3 por ciento muy disminuida y en 7 casos, no detectable. La IgE fue elevada en el 35,3 por ciento de los casos. Conclusiones: De los resultados obtenidos, se infiere que los pacientes con B.N.C.T. y P., tienen un perfil de IgA en saliva y moco nasal deficitario debido a las alteraciones de la mucosa nasal en distintos estadíos evolutivos que conducen al B.N.C.T. y P., hecho que se correlaciona con los hallazgos anatomopatológicos

Fisiopatología de la rinosinusitis crónica / chronic rhinosinusitis fisiopatology

La respuesta inflamatoria de las vías aéreas superiores, ocasionada por infecciones virales y/o bacterianas, constituye la causa más común de consulta médica y la rinosinusitis una complicación frecuente. Las alteraciones en los mecanismos de inmunidad local y sistémica son factores que favorecen el desarrollo de la rinosinusitis. La participación de mediadores derivados del eosinófilo es también un factor importante en la fisiopatología de la inflamación de la mucosa nasal