RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plasma levels of MCP-1, RANTES and IL-18 are related to allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis or asthma. But it is not well investigated in allergic rhinitis. We evaluated the association of plasma concentrations of these cytokines and allergic rhinitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The concentrations of plasma MCP-1, RANTES and IL-18 were analyzed by ELISA. The levels of cytokines were compared between perennial allergic rhinitis patients (n=48) and controls (n=33), and this depended on symptom severity. RESULTS: Plasma levels of MCP-1 and IL-18 were significantly increased more in allergic rhinitis patients (MCP-1, 108 pg/mL, p<0.01; IL-18, 299 pg/mL, p<0.01) than in controls (MCP-1, 86 pg/mL; IL-18, 168 pg/mL). Especially, the levels of moderate-severe allergic rhinitis group (MCP-1, 116 pg/mL; IL-18, 329 pg/mL) showed higher tendency than mild one (MCP-1, 101 pg/mL; IL-18, 273 pg/mL). However, the levels of RANTES did not exhibit any differences between allergic rhinitis and control. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that plasma MCP-1 and IL-18 might be associated with nasal inflammation of perennial allergic rhinitis, especially in severely symptomatic patients.
