Allergic rhinitis and arterial blood pressure: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the likelihood of allergic rhinitis and potential co-morbidities, and to assess whether allergic rhinitis is associated with arterial blood pressure and hypertension. METHODS: In this population-based study, 369 adults with allergic rhinitis and asthma were assessed via a questionnaire and immunoglobulin E levels. There were four groups: control (n = 90), allergic rhinitis (n = 99), asthma (n = 87) and hypertension (n = 93). Arterial blood pressure was measured in all groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in systolic or diastolic blood pressure between males and females in any group. Pairwise comparisons revealed no significant differences between: the control and allergic rhinitis groups, the control and asthma groups, or the allergic rhinitis and asthma groups. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure values of males and females were significantly higher in the hypertension group than the allergic rhinitis group. There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure for seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis patients. CONCLUSION: Rhinitis was not associated with increased blood pressure. Allergic rhinitis can coincide with asthma and hypertension. The findings do not support the need for blood pressure follow up in allergic rhinitis patients.

Genetic polymorphisms affecting antioxidant enzymes are present in tympanosclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated genetic polymorphisms affecting the inducible nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes in chronic otitis media patients with and without tympanosclerosis, and the role of genetic susceptibility in the disease aetiology. METHODS: A total of 162 patients who underwent surgery for chronic otitis media were divided into two study groups: a tympanosclerosis group and a chronic otitis media group. A third, the control, group comprised 188 healthy volunteers. Venous blood samples were evaluated using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in GG genotype distribution of the -277A>G polymorphism in the NOS2 gene between the tympanosclerosis and control groups (p T) polymorphism in the SOD2 gene (p > 0.05). There were significant differences in the TT genotype distribution of the -21A>T polymorphism in the CAT gene between the tympanosclerosis and control groups, and between the chronic otitis media and control groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that genetic predisposition may play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of tympanosclerosis.

Audiological abnormalities in patients with alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: Audiological abnormalities seen in various autoimmune disorders raises the question of whether such abnormalities also exist in alopecia areata. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to detect possible audiological abnormalities in Alopecia areata (AA) patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 51 patients with AA and 51 healthy controls. Autoscopic and audiometric examinations of both ears were performed in patients and controls. Audiometric examinations were performed using a pure tone audiometer in a silent cabin. Pure tone thresholds were determined for each ear at frequencies of 250-16000 Hz for air conduction. RESULTS: Sensorineural hypoacusis was found in 28 patients with AA (54.9%). Six of these 28 patients showed unilateral minimal hearing loss (>30 dB) at high frequencies only (4000-16 000 Hz), while 22 showed bilateral minimal hearing loss (>30 dB) at high frequencies only (4000-16 000 Hz). Hypoacusis was observed in 13 control subjects (25.4%). Sensorineural hypoacusis was significantly more frequent in AA patients than controls (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Follicular melanocytes may be an important target in the autoimmune process of AA and AA may have an effect on hearing function by affecting the melanocytes in the inner ear. Therefore, there may be a relationship between sensorineural hearing loss and the autoimmune disease, AA.