Nasal Smear as a Screening Test for Immediate‐Type Nasal Allergy

Abstract

From a previous sample of634 students and school children, 115 subjects were selected for a thorough rhinological examination and allergy work-up in order to assess the value of nasal secretion eosinophilia in screening for immediate-type nasal allergy, Part of the subjects had, in the previous study, been found to have secretion eosinophilia and a history of chronic/allergic rhinitis, part of the subjects had either a secretion eosinophilia or a rhinitis history, and part of them had neither a secretion eosinophilia nor a rhinitis history. A significant correlation was obtained between secretion eosinophilia and allergy. Nasal provocation tests correlated with skin tests in 87%, whereas the correlation between nasal provocation tests and IgE determinations in the serum was poorer. Thickening of the maxillary sinus was, when present, usually attributable to infection and not to allergy. Reasons for "false positive or false negative" smears for eosinophils arc discussed. Kg urordrt atopic rhinitl; common allergem in rhinitl; immediate nasal allergy; nasal letletion eosinophilia.28. Vaheri, E.: Nasal allergy with special reference to eosinophilia and histopathology. Acta Allergol. IO, 29. Vmrhont, R.: The eosinophil cell and its role in allergy and in infection. Adv.

The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: An updated practice parameter

“…857 Many studies have shown a high correlation of nasal eosinophilia and allergic rhinitis; however, it is questionable how much this benefits the clinician in making the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. [87][88][89] In a study of adolescents and adults, adding nasal smears for eosinophils to an expert's clinical evaluation in establishing a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis contributed very little to the final diagnosis and was considered clinically irrelevant. 90 When eosinophils in nasal smears are present, there is only a 71% correlation with SPTs and a 69% correlation with nasal challenge tests, suggesting that routine use of the nasal smear may not be beneficial.…”

“…Although nasal cytology may be useful in differentiating infectious from noninfectious nasal and/or sinus disease, the clinical value, particularly for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, is limited by low specificity and sensitivity. [87][88][89][90][91] For example, neutrophils may be present not only in acute and chronic sinusitis but also in conjunction with eosinophils in patients with allergic rhinitis who also have an acute infection process. 92 Cultures of the nasopharynx without visualization in children with rhinitis is of no value because pathogenic bacteria, as part of the normal flora, have been recovered in as many as 92% of asymptomatic healthy children.…”

Assessment of cost effectiveness of antihistaminics in allergic rhinitis patients in rural region by Nasal cytology: a simple and inexpensive tool

“…20 Malmberg and Holopainen demonstrated the correlation between nasal eosinophilia and allergic rhinitis. 21 Relationship between allergic rhinitis and nasal eosinophilia has been also studied by Kajosaari and Saarinen. In this survey, a group of 178 patients with allergic rhinitis was observed; the presence of eosinophils and mast cells in cytograms obtained from the nasal mucosa (using nasal smear taken by wiping the mucosa with a cotton-tipped applicator) was an important indicator of allergic rhinitis, characterized by a high specificity but a low sensitivity.…”

Nasal cytology: the “infectious spot”, an expression of a morphological-chromatic biofilm

“…Over the last years nasal cytology is increasingly used in the study of either allergic and vasomotor rhinological disorders, or infectious and inflammatory rhinitis [1,2]. Since nasal cytology can detect cellular changes of epithelium exposed to physical-chemical inflammation [3,4], acute or chronic infections of different nature (viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic) [5,6], it has been matter of interest, both in basic and clinical research.…”