MUCOSAL ALLERGY IN THE ABSENCE OF SYSTEMIC ALLERGY IN NASAL POLYPOSISAND RHINITIS - A METAANALYSIS

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.