Genetic Role in Allergic Rhinitis

ABSTRACT

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa, induced by an IgE-mediated reaction following exposure to an allergen. Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem, with a prevalence of between 9-42% among the general population. While it is known that allergic rhinitis does not exhibit a Mendelian hereditary pattern, the disease does have a hereditary component. The development of allergic rhinitis entails a complex interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental exposure to different factors, of which the most important is the implicated allergen. Genetic studies about several atopic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, are now actively in progress, but most of the studies focus on asthma and adverse drug reactions. Current genetic studies of allergic rhinitis include family and twin studies, genome-wide linkage analyses, and candidate gene association studies. Also ongoing are studies to identify susceptibility genes and to understand factors influencing gene expression.