MAST-CELLS, EOSINOPHILS ANAL IGE-POSITIVE CELLS IN THE NASAL-MUCOSA OF PATIENTS WITH VASOMOTOR RHINITIS - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) is a disorder of unknown pathogenesis. Forty patients with VMR were carefully selected on the basis of inclusion an d exclusion criteria proposed by Mygind and Weeke. Nasal biopsy specim ens were taken in the patient group as well as in a group of ten contr ols. Brush cytology was also taken in the VMR group. Inflammatory cell s were identified and counted in the nasal mucosa, with the use of imm unohistochemical techniques and a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Eosi nophils were studied with the use of BMK13, EG2, and Giemsa. Mast cell s were studied with anti-chymase (B7), anti-tryptase (G3) and toluidin e blue. Sections were stained with IgE as well. There was no significa nt difference in the number of eosinophils, mast cells and IgE-positiv e cells between the two groups. Additionally, in contrast with other r eports, in sections that were double-stained with anti-chymase and ant i-tryptase, single chymase-positive cells were found.