ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC IGE ANTIBODY AND CYTOGRAM IN MUCOSA OF THE NOSE AND SINUS

Maxillary sinus mucosa from sinusitis patients (n = 60) and nasal mucosa from the inferior turbinates of hypertrophic rhinitis patients (n = 31) were collected to detect the appearance of tissue dust mite-specific IgE antibody and increase in eosinophils, mast cells, and plasma cells. The serum levels of total IgE and dust mite-specific IgE antibody were significantly greater in atopic patients than in nonatopic patients, whereas tissue specific IgE antibody was elevated in turbinate mucosa but not in sinus mucosa. Eosinophils and basophilic cells in epithelial scrapings from the inferior turbinates, assessed by Hansel stain, increased in about 85% of atopic patients with hypertrophic rhinitis (n = 16) and 60% of atopic patients with chronic sinusitis (n = 12). The increase in eosinophils, mast cells, and plasma cells was more prevalent in the turbinate mucosa of atopic patients than in that of nonatopics, but there was no such increase in sinus mucosa. We conclude that the maxillary sinuses may not be the target organ of type I allergic reaction and antigen-specific IgE antibody is probably produced by the local lymphoid tissue.