ABSTRACT

Allergic rhinitis is an IgE hypersensitivity reaction that takes place in the nasal mucosa because of the inhaled allergens. Skin prick tests and serum specific IgE (sIgE) measurements are recommended to diagnose AR on first steps. In this study, sensitive allergen profile and the detected levels of sIgE were investigated in adult patients with AR. Medical records of 426 adult patients with AR were reviewed retrospectively. 148 (63 male, 85 female) of them who showed significant serum sIgE levels as a reaction to at least one agent were enrolled in the study. Serum sIgE measurements were performed with enzyme immunoassay method. 20 parameters were scanned in tests. According to antibody levels, 10 patients were sensitive to one allergen, 138 patients were found to be sensitive to more than one allergen. The maximum sensitivity rate was 44.6% against to dog epithelium, while the least was 0.7% to molds. Antibody levels were found to be higher as the numbers of sensitizing allergen levels were increased.

Keywords: serum sige levels, clinical findings, diagnosis, allergic rhinitis