Hypoglobulinemia Frequency in Adult Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Objective: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an immunoglobuin E (IgE)-mediated inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Allergic rhinitis is an important disease due to its high prevalence, effect on quality of life and socio-economic impact. It is known that hyper-immunoglobulin E syndrome and Wiskott- Aldrich syndrome have an atopic component. We aimed to investigate the humoral deficiency by evaluating Ig levels in adult patients with AR. Material and Methods: One hundred eighty-seven patients (Female/male: 112/75) who admitted to our clinic with allergic rhinitis diagnosis were included in the study. Skin prick test (SPT) was performed in all patients for mites, pollens, animal dander, molds, insects, his- tamine, and negative controls (ALK-Abello, Spain). Serum total IgE, IgG, IgA and IgM were meas- ured by nephelometry (Siemens Dade Behring BNII Nephelometer). Immunoglobulin deficiency was defined as two standard deviations less than mean value for that specified age. Results: Five patients (2.67%) had IgA deficiency and four patients (2.13%) had IgM deficiency. None of the patients had IgG deficiency. Conclusions: There may be an association between AR and IgA or IgM deficiency in adult patients.