Screening and analysis for potential clinical diagnostic and prognostic markers in allergic rhinitis.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To identify potential clinical diagnostic and prognostic markers for allergic rhinitis (AR) by analyzing a range of inflammatory and clinical markers in a cohort of patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 493 AR patients treated at Qianjiang Central Hospital from January to March 2023. Patients were categorized based on their outcome. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were strictly applied to select the study population. Various clinical and inflammatory markers were assessed, and statistical analyses were performed to evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic utility. RESULTS: No significant differences in traditional demographic factors were found between the good and poor prognosis groups (all P > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in several inflammatory and clinical markers Interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels were 17.32 ± 4.21 pg/mL in the good prognosis group versus 18.56 ± 5.89 pg/mL in the poor prognosis group (t=2.562, P=0.011). Interleukin-5 (IL-5) levels were 15.65 ± 3.78 pg/mL versus 16.52 ± 4.56 pg/mL, respectively (t=2.221, P=0.027). Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) levels were 39.16 ± 8.92 pg/mL versus 41.32 ± 9.67 pg/mL (t=2.513, P=0.012), and histamine levels were 11.87 ± 3.21 ng/mL versus 12.56 ± 4.03 ng/mL (t=1.991, P=0.047). Interleukin-13 (IL-13) levels were 16.32 ± 3.56 pg/mL versus 17.09 ± 4.21 pg/mL (t=2.108, P=0.036). Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were significantly different, with 164.87 ± 45.32 IU/mL in the good prognosis group compared to 198.56 ± 58.21 IU/mL in the poor prognosis group (t=6.866, P < 0.001). The composite biomarker model demonstrated high predictive value for AR prognosis with an Area Under Curve of 0.906. Individual markers such as TGF-ß1, IL-13, and serum IgE levels showed strong diagnostic potential. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the clinical utility of various inflammatory and clinical markers as diagnostic and prognostic indicators for AR. TGF-ß1, IL-13, and serum IgE levels, in particular, demonstrated significant diagnostic and prognostic value. An integrated approach combining multiple biomarkers could enhance the accuracy of AR diagnosis and prognosis. Further validation through prospective clinical studies and consideration of treatment interventions are recommended to clarify the clinical implications of these markers.