ABSTRACT
Background: Nasal polyposis is the benign protrusion of soft tissue into the nasal cavity; with multifactorial origin. This study is designed to examine the suggested role of IgE and CD and CD lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of 4 8 nasal polyposis. Method: Blood samples were taken from 32 patients with chronic polypoid sinusitis and 32 controls. CD and CD 4 8 total lymphocyte count were determined by flow cytometry and the level of serum IgE was measured by ELISA. Nasal discharge samples were also collected for determining IgE level in both patients and controls during surgery. Results: In 68.8of patients a history of allergy was present. The level of nasal discharge IgE was significantly higher (p0.001) in patients compared to controls; but the difference between serum IgE levels was not significant (p 0.05). CD concentration and blood lymphocytes were 8 significantly higher (p0.001) in the patients group; while CD concentration was significantly lower (p0.001) in 4 them. Finally; CD /CD ratio was significantly lower 4 8 (p0.001) in the patients group. Conclusion: This study suggests that a change in the amount of CD and CD lymphocytes and an increased 4 8 level of local IgE contribute to nasal polyposis; but the results should be confirmed in more extensive studies including cytokine analyses. Such increasing insights in the patho physiology of nasal polyposis open perspectives for new pharmacological treatment options; with immunologic factors as potential targets.of patients a history of allergy was present. The level of nasal discharge IgE was significantly higher (p0.001) in patients compared to controls; but the difference between serum IgE levels was not significant (p 0.05). CD concentration and blood lymphocytes were 8 significantly higher (p0.001) in the patients group; while CD concentration was significantly lower (p0.001) in 4 them. Finally; CD /CD ratio was significantly lower 4 8 (p0.001) in the patients group. Conclusion: This study suggests that a change in the amount of CD and CD lymphocytes and an increased 4 8 level of local IgE contribute to nasal polyposis; but the results should be confirmed in more extensive studies including cytokine analyses. Such increasing insights in the patho physiology of nasal polyposis open perspectives for new pharmacological treatment options; with immunologic factors as potential targets