Rate of allergic fungal etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis in Turkish population

The Impact of Climatic, Socioeconomic, and Geographic Factors on the Prevalence of Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis: A Worldwide Ecological Study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) and its associated risk factors have been an issue of debate. Some epidemiological factors have been correlated to the disease prevalence.

OBJECTIVES

To observe the prevalence pattern of AFRS worldwide and to investigate the effect of specific epidemiological factors on the disease prevalence.

METHODS

A systematic review was derived from 1983 to December 2018. Data on the prevalence of AFRS were collected from the selected studies. Relevant factors assessing each city's climate, socioeconomics and geography were used to study the association with AFRS prevalence.

RESULTS

35 cities across 5 continents were investigated. The worldwide average rate of AFRS in CRS cases is 7.8% (0.2%-26.7%) in which more than half of the investigated cities (57%) had low AFRS prevalence, while the remaining cities had intermediate (11%) and high (32%) prevalence. Cities with higher temperatures were associated with a higher prevalence of AFRS (p-value 0.002), whereas cities with humid continental climate were significantly associated with a low prevalence of AFRS (p-value 0.032). Humidity and wind speed were lower in the cities with higher AFRS prevalence (p-value 0.018 and 0.008, respectively). There were no significant correlations between AFRS prevalence and economic levels, presence of water bodies, rainfall amounts, altitude, and presence of forests.

CONCLUSION

AFRS has a worldwide distribution pattern with varying prevalence. In this ecological study, we observed a correlation between AFRS prevalence and climatic factors (climate classification, humidity, temperature, and wind speed). Socioeconomic factors should be analyzed on an individual basis for better assessment of the relationship with disease prevalence.

A comprehensive review of the nasal microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been known as a disease with strong infectious and inflammatory components for decades. The recent advancement in methods identifying microbes has helped implicate the airway microbiome in inflammatory respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD. Such studies support a role of resident microbes in both health and disease of host tissue, especially in the case of inflammatory mucosal diseases. Identifying interactive events between microbes and elements of the immune system can help us to uncover the pathogenic mechanisms underlying CRS. Here we provide a review of the findings on the complex upper respiratory microbiome in CRS in comparison with healthy controls. Furthermore, we have reviewed the defects and alterations of the host immune system that interact with microbes and could be associated with dysbiosis in CRS.

Frequency of IgE-dependent hypersensitivity to moulds in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps

INTRODUCTION

The complicated etiology of chronic sinusitis with polyps and frequent allergy to mould is established.

AIM

We aimed to investigate the frequency of the IgE-dependent hypersensitivity in this group of patients and prove the need of surgery in allergic chronic rhinosinusitis patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-two patients (19 females, 23 males) aged 34-73 years (55 ±12.6 years), with chronic sinusitis with polyps were included into the study. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery, laryngological examination, sinus computed tomography scans, and smear from maxillary sinus for microbiological examination were done in all patients. Skin prick tests with common perennial and seasonal inhalant allergens, tIgE and sIgE against moulds were required.

RESULTS

Thirty-two of 42 patients (71.4%) were allergic to at least one inhalant allergen. A mean concentration of total IgE was 241.2 ±186.3 kU/l (35.0-708.0 kU/l) and was lower in patients with fungal culture found in sinus mucin than in patients without fungal presence 75.1 ±54.6 kU/l vs. 284.3 ±204.1 kU/l. We found no difference in the number of positive skin prick tests in a group with and without fungal culture. None of patients with fungal culture found in sinuses presented a detectable level of mold sIgE. All patients with fungal vegetation in sinuses required at least two polypectomy procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

The total IgE concentration was significantly lower in patients with fungal presence in sinuses. Nasal polyps occurred more frequently in patients with fungal presence in sinuses.

Clinical severity and epithelial endotypes in chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a heterogeneous disease defined by epithelial inflammation. The link between measures of traditional disease severity and markers of epithelial inflammation is poorly understood as prior research has focused on presence of polyps or degree of eosinophilia. The expression of 3 epithelial derived cytokines implicated in initiation of T-helper 2 (Th2) inflammation and an eosinophil chemoattractant were compared with clinical measures used in CRS.

METHODS

Sinus mucosal samples from CRS patients undergoing sinus surgery were analyzed for interleukin-25 (IL-25), IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and eotaxin-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Tumor patients undergoing surgery transnasally with normal sinus mucosa were controls. Gene expression was compared with symptom, radiology, and endoscopy scores, serological markers, presence of reactive airways disease (RAD), and atopy.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients (38% female, mean age 48 ± 15 years), 12 CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), 18 CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and 7 controls were recruited. CRSwNP phenotype predicted elevated IL-25, IL-33, and eotaxin-3 levels. Increased eotaxin-3 correlated with poorer computed tomography (CT) (p = 0.004) and endoscopic scores (p = 0.049). Increased IL-25 correlated with poorer CT scores (p = 0.012) and raised serum eosinophils (p = 0.006). No associations with RAD, atopy, and symptom measures were found. No associations for IL-33 and TSLP were found.

CONCLUSION

Inflammatory mediators of the epithelium in CRS has some correlation with traditional measures of disease burden. Certain epithelial profiles may predict highly dysfunctional epithelial barriers and prospective evaluation of the clinical outcomes from interventions is required. Future endotyping of the epithelium in CRS may be able to provide prognostic information.

The role of allergy in rhinosinusitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To examine the current evidence for IgE and non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity mechanisms in acute and chronic rhinosinusitis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Epidemiological studies show that classical IgE-mediated allergy is present in a proportion of acute rhinosinusitis patients. There is conflicting evidence whether the prevalence of IgE-mediated allergy is greater in chronic rhinosinusitis than in individuals without chronic rhinosinusitis. Despite presence of classical IgE-mediated allergy, based on elevated allergen-specific serum IgE levels and positive skin prick tests, currently there is no direct evidence for allergy as a major cause of sinonasal inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis. There is increasing evidence that non-IgE-mediated fungal hypersensitivity and nonallergic IgE-associated inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis in some forms of chronic rhinosinusitis, including allergic fungal sinusitis. Specific IgE to bacterial superantigens may also be elevated in nasal polyps and modulate eosinophilic inflammation. Recent insights into mucosal immune mechanisms yield intriguing prospects for the roles of mucosal IgE, mast cells and non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity mechanisms that require further examination in rhinosinusitis.

SUMMARY

There is a need for further immunological studies of the systemic and mucosal cellular and humoral mechanisms in well defined patient groups and controls to better understand the role of IgE and non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity mechanisms and nonhypersensitivity functions of IgE in rhinosinusitis.