Association of Serum Vitamin D and Immunoglobulin E Levels With Severity of Allergic Rhinitis

Nukhbat U Awan,Shahida Niazi,Syeda Fatima Rizvi,Khalid Cheema,Fatima Naumeri,Shahzada K Sohail,Samina Qamar

doi:10.7759/cureus.12911

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the association of serum vitamin D and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels with the severity of allergic rhinitis (AR).MethodsThis case-control study was conducted at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from June to September 2020 after obtaining ethical approval. Patients of AR were included and divided with the help of allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) classification, into group A (cases), patients presenting with moderate to severe symptoms, and into group B (control), patients with mild symptoms, after treatment of AR. The mean difference between serum IgE and serum Vitamin D levels of both groups were compared by t-test. Association was determined by logistic regression and odds ratio.ResultsA total of 224 patients were included in the study, 112 patients in group A and 112 patients in group B. There were 106 (47.3%) female and 118 (52.7%) male. The mean age of patients in group A was 26.78± 8.92 years and in group B, it was 25.72±8.12 years. Mean serum vitamin D levels in group A were 16.24±6.7 ng/ml and in group B 26.92±35 ng/ml (p=0.0001). Mean serum IgE levels in group A were 383.69±154.86 IU/ml and in group B, they were 373.03±106.83 IU/ml (p=0.0001). Vitamin D deficient patients were 24 times more likely to develop moderate to severe AR disease.ConclusionThis study showed that in moderate-severe AR, IgE levels are raised statistically as compared to mild AR and the deficiency of Vitamin D is associated with increasing severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Highlights

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE), after exposure to different allergens [1]
This study showed that in moderate-severe AR, IgE levels are raised statistically as compared to mild AR and the deficiency of Vitamin D is associated with increasing severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms
Patients presenting with a history of atopy and recurrent sneezing, rhinorrhea, itching in nose and eyes, nasal congestion, nasal obstruction and postnasal drip, and typical physical findings on anterior rhinoscopy, such as pale, bluish tinged nasal mucosa, and the allergic salute was classified according to ARIA classification into mild, and moderate to severe allergic rhinitis patients and were included in the study, after taking informed consent, using a purposive, nonprobability sampling technique

Summary

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE), after exposure to different allergens [1]. Allergic rhinitis is thought to be the most common type of chronic rhinitis affecting up to 30%-40% of the population and its prevalence is increasing [3]. Moderate to severe AR affects the quality of life significantly due to poor performance at school and work, leading to sleep disturbance and social isolation [4]. Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) classification groups AR according to symptoms duration and severity. Symptoms are classified as ‘mild’ when there is no impairment in sleep and patients are able to perform daily routine activities and ‘moderate-severe’ if there is impaired sleep and symptoms are bothersome and affect daily activities [5]

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Conclusion