Allergic rhinitis in asthma.

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are different pathologies deeply connected. Despite anatomical related differences existing between these two clinical conditions, they share a pathogenetic mechanism represented by an inflammatory pattern in which many upper airways cells and mediators are the same involved in lower airway disease. In other words, they seem to be a different phenothypical expression of a common immunological process. Allergic rhinitis is a very common pathology, it often precedes the onset of clinical asthma, and is associated to a worsening in both asthma control and patient quality of life. Available knowledge suggests that a well performed treatment of rhinitis can lead to a better asthma control, as well as its treatment with specific immunotherapy can prevent or delay asthma onset. Since inhaled corticosteroids represent the most effective treatment in both cases, a long term combined therapeutic plan is needed in order to ameliorate overall patients health status and to improve their health related quality of life avoiding the risk of dose related drugs side effects.