LYMPHOCYTE INFILTRATION AND THICKNESS OF THE NASAL MUCOUS-MEMBRANE INPERENNIAL AND SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS

We have used immunocytochemical techniques to study infiltration by ly mphocytes in biopsy specimens of the nasal mucosal membrane in 24 atop ic patients and 10 normal volunteers. Twelve patients had perennial rh initis and 12 had seasonal allergic rhinitis (SR) to grass pollen. Bio psy specimens were taken both in and out of the pollen season in patie nts with SR. Biopsy specimens were strained with the indirect immunope roxidase technique and monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD22, a nd CD25. T helper cells (CD4+) and CD25 + cells were significantly mor e numerous in patients exposed to allergen (those with perennial rhini tis and SR in season) compared with normal volunteers, whereas values for SR out of season were intermediate. The thickness of the nasal epi thelium was significantly (p < 0.05) greater in biopsy specimens from patients with perennial rhinitis (mean, 51.43 mum) than in those from patients with SR in season (median, 32.44 mum). These results suggest that in allergic rhinitis, natural exposure to allergen is accompanied by increased infiltration of the nasal mucous membrane by T-helper an d CD25 + cells.