Leukotrienes in Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is characterized by the symptoms of nasal itch, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal stuffiness with, in addition, in more severe and chronic disease the development of mucosal swelling that results in impaired sinus drainage, loss of sense of smell, and alteration in eustachian tube function (1). These symptoms and disruption of normal function are consequent on the local release of mediators from activated cells within the nasal mucosa, through interactions with end-organ receptors (2). In this respect the nose differs from the lower respiratory tract in that symptom expression and disordered function are secondary to stimulation of neural, glandular, and vascular components and does not involve airway smooth muscle constriction.