The Eosinophilic Changes in Rhinorrhea due to Nasal Allergy

Since the early part of the twentieth century, many authors have claimed that eosinophilia is found in the nasal secretions and blood of patients with allergic diseases. This observation has now become an established fact, and recent evidence based on extensive investigation, suggests that the eosinophil may play an active role in allergic disease. Thus, we report changes in nasal eosinophils in a group of nasal allergy patients treated by specific hyposensitization. The following results were obtained; 1. Eosinophilia was noted in 52.8 percent of untreated nasal allergy patients. 2. The eosinophilic count was gradually decreased with increasing S.D.V.(specific desensitizing vaccine) hyposensitization.

The Electron Microscopic Study of Enzymes in Eosinophils

The author has made the electron microscopic study of enzymes in eosinophils in order to clearify the influence of hyposensitization in allergic rhinitis to the activity of enzymes in eosinophilic granules and the following results were obtained. 1. In all 3 control, hyposensitization and allergic groups, eosinophilic granules with matrix and crystalloid core in circulating blood and tissue was observed. 2. In all 3 groups, activity of acid phosphatase was not found in neutrophil, basophil, macrophage and glands as a form of coagulated activating colony of acid phosphatase. 3. In control and hyposensitizing groups, number of eosinophils were smaller than that was counted in allergic group. Activity of peroxidase in granule was weak and granular out flowing and rupture of cell membrane were not observed. 4. In allergic group, eosinophil count was high, activity of peroxidase in granule was strong and granular out flowing and rupture of cell membrane were severe. At the same time, many vacuoles, which were suspected to be the result of phagocyte the protein as foreign substance, wag observed. Judging from the fact that eosinophil has a specific relation to allergic diseases and the activity of peroxidase that exist as an enzyme in eosinophilic granule is strong, it is believed that the major function of eosinophil is phagocytosis of antigen, or antigen-antibody complex. On the other hand, the fact that activity of peroxidase was weak in hyposensitizing group lead us to believe that the activity of peroxidase may be used as an indicator for detecting hyposensitizing status in the treatment of allergic disease.