Nasal mucosal hyperpermeability to macromolecules in atopic rhinitis and extrinsic asthma

Airway permeability

“…The common presence of plasma proteins on airway mucosal surfaces in asthma and rhinitis has been thought, wrongly as we now see it [5], to be a clear sign of a general hyperpermeability state. Absorption data obtained under less well controlled conditions [23] have been generously interpreted in favour of the hyperpermeability hypothesis or, when failing to support the accepted paradigm [24,25] the data may not have received widespread attention. Although not quantitatively confirmed, histological pictures have been publicized showing all the features of the paradigm of hyperpermeability in human allergic airways, including paracellular epithelial 'gaps' in the nasal mucosa [26,27] and denuded basement membranes in asthmatic bronchi [28].…”

Airway Reactivity of Nose and Bronchi in Patients with Nasal

“…The results of the study [ 12] agree with the congestional changes found in a previous study on healthy volunteers [7], where a diminishing congestion was observed 10 min after challenge, indicating that the congestional changes noted with the histamine provoca tion model are due to vascular changes. This would sug gest that the provocation model probably detects nasal hyperreactivity due to changes in permeability [ 13] and enhanced mediator release in response to nonspecific stimuli [14,15]. However, nasal hyperreactivity may be due to other factors.…”

Norepinephrine Uptake in Guinea Pig Lung

“…The retention of 14C-urea was also increased suggesting that membrane perme ability was augmented. Increased permea bility of membranes has been hypothesized to play a role in antigen-antibody reaction and bronchial asthma [4,5], Such a change might be primarily responsible for the in creased accumulation of NE. This explana tion is also supported by the fact that there was no significant change of 3H/14C ratio be tween the control and anaphylactic lungs.…”