Abstract
Background: House dust mites are the most prevalent allergens in patients with asthma and/or rhinitis in China. Cross-sectional data in 2009 have shown that allergic rhinitis often preceded or occurred at the same time as asthma in patients which was used to investigate the association of serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels to house dust mite with the onset of asthma in patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods: 321 patients with allergic rhinitis were face-to-face interviewed and underwent sIgE tests to house dust mite. The temporal sequence of allergic rhinitis and asthma was documented. Univariate analysis, multinomial logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were performed. Results: Of the 321 participants, 213 (66.4%) had asthma, which occurred after or simultaneously with rhinitis, and 108 (33.6%) suffered from allergic rhinitis only. After controlling basic parameters, factors correlated to sIgE, and essential factors considered by clinical allergists, the risk of developing asthma always increased with the levels of sIgE to house dust mite in all four models (p < 0.01). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, in the first ten years with allergy rhinitis, a high sIgE level represented a high probability of the coexistence of allergic rhinitis and asthma (p < 0.01). For house dust mite sIgE level 5-6, 5 years Rhinitis-Asthma Conversion Rate (RACR) had reached almost 70%. Conclusion: High-level house dust mite sIgE can exist as an indicator of rhinitis to asthma. It provides a theoretical basis for early intervention in patients with high sIgE levels in order to prevent asthma. This assessment and intervention should be performed at the early stage of rhinitis.
Specific immunoglobulin E in nasal secretions for the diagnosis of local allergic rhinitis
