Js. Shatkin et al., MUCOSAL ALLERGY IN THE ABSENCE OF SYSTEMIC ALLERGY IN NASAL POLYPOSISAND RHINITIS - A METAANALYSIS, Otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, 111(5), 1994, pp. 553-556
To better determine the role of allergy in rhinitis and nasal polyposi
s, we assessed the prevalence of nasal mucosal allergy in the absence
of systemic allergy. After a thorough literature search we compiled an
d analyzed data from nine studies (287 patients) that tested for speci
fic immunoglobulin E both intranasally and systemically. When meta-ana
lysis was applied to the different populations, 19% of those who demon
strated specific immunoglobulin E manifested nasal mucosal allergy but
no systemic allergy. We suggest that there is an important segment of
rhinitis and nasal polyp patients who have nasal mucosal allergy.