THE RELATION BETWEEN ALLERGEN-INDUCED LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC IMMUNE RESPONSE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common allergic disease. It strongly affects the patients’ life quality. Although laboratory tests evaluating immune response are often performed for patients with AR in clinical practice, there is no much data analyzing their link to the quality of life. Objective. To evaluate the local and systemic immune response and its correlation with the quality of life in patients with AR. Methods. 52 randomly selected AR patients who were treated at the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos filled in Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ(S)) and additional data was collected (eosinophils in nasal smear and peripheral blood, total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), allergens, sex, age, AR type). Results. 38.5% were men and 61.5% – women. Average patients’ age was 30.52±11.98 years. Total life quality median was 1.57 (0–4.64). There was no significant correlation between total quality of life and the number of eosinophiles in nasal smear (r = 0.111, p = 0.449), peripheral blood, % (r=0.210, p=0.162), peripheral blood, ×109/l (r = 0.219, p = 0.143), total serum IgE (r 0.206, p = 0.165). The life quality was the same for men and women, except for the practical problems that were more exhausting for the women (2 (0–5.67) vs. 0.67 (0–4), p = 0.033). Sensitivity to pets’ allergens was related to poorer quality of sleep (1.5 (0–6) vs. 0.33 (0–3.33), p = 0.036); sensitivity to food allergens was
associated with higher serum total IgE (398.65 (42.4–1382.7) vs. 127.55 (3–1899.3), p = 0.019). Conclusion. The life quality was not related to the local and systemic immune response or AR type. AR-induced practical problems were more frequent in women than inmen. The quality of sleep was lower in patients sensitive to pets’ allergens, and total serum IgE was higher for those with sensitivity to food allergens.