Nasal fluid secretory immunoglobulin A levels in children with allergic rhinitis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: There is growing knowledge about the immunoregulatory and possibly preventative roles of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in allergic diseases. This study aimed to investigate secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels in the nasal fluid of children who were either being treated for their allergic rhinitis (AR) with intranasal mometasone furoate or were not receiving treatment. METHODS: The study population contained 55 children with persistent AR. Group I included 27 newly diagnosed AR patients not taking any medication and group II included 28 patients treated with intranasal steroids for at least 6 months. 27 healthy control subjects were also enrolled in the study. Total symptom scores (TSS) were calculated for each patient. Nasal secretions were obtained using a new modified polyurethane sponge absorption method, and samples were analysed by ELISA. RESULTS: The median value for nasal fluid SIgA level in each group was 127.2µg/ml (interquartile range; 67.3-149.6) in group I, 133.9µg/ml (102.1-177.8) in group II and 299.8µg/ml (144.5-414.0) in the control group. Groups I and II both had statistically significant reductions in nasal fluid SIgA levels compared to the control group (p<0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between groups I and II (p=0.35). A statistically significant and negative correlation also existed between TSS and nasal fluid SIgA levels in both groups I and II (p=0.006, rho=-0.512 and p=0.01, rho=-0.481, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: SIgA levels in the nasal fluid are significantly reduced in children with AR independent of treatment and are negatively correlated with the TSS.