Respiratory Viral Infection Prevalent Among Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

Post on December 1, 2013 by André Broussard, D.C.

Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013 Dec 01;111(6)508-511, JH Kim, BJ Moon, CH Gong, NH Kim, YJ Jang Research · December 31, 2013

TAME HOME MESSAGE

  • This prospective case-control study of patients with allergic rhinitis used a PCR-based assay to show that respiratory viruses were detected in a large percentage compared with controls. However, severity of symptoms was not increased with viral infection.
  • The findings suggest a possible role for respiratory viruses, particularly rhinovirus, in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis may be worsened by a viral respiratory infection. However, there are few data on the presence of respiratory virus in patients with allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether patients with allergic rhinitis have an increased frequency of respiratory virus detection in a prospective case-control study.

METHODS

Fifty-eight adult patients diagnosed with perennial allergic rhinitis were evaluated from September 2011 through June 2012. A control group of 61 adult patients without allergy was included. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to detect respiratory viruses in nasal lavage samples.

RESULTS

Respiratory viruses were detected in 25 of 58 patients (43.1%) with perennial allergic rhinitis, but in only 15 of 61 control patients (24.6%). In virus-positive samples, multiple viruses were detected in 9 of 25 patients (36.0%) with perennial allergic rhinitis but in only 2 of 15 control patients (12.5%). Rhinovirus was the most common virus in patients without allergy and those with allergic rhinitis. There were significant differences in the detection rates of overall and multiple respiratory viruses and rhinovirus between the 2 groups (P < .05). However, in patients with allergic rhinitis, there was no statistically significant association between the detection of respiratory viruses and symptom scores.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that there is a high prevalence of respiratory viruses, especially rhinovirus, in patients with allergic rhinitis. Subsequent studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of highly prevalent respiratory viruses in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Full Story:  http://www.practiceupdate.com/journalscan/7304
Journal Reference:  http://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(13)00612-1/abstract

Comments Are Closed