The role of allergy in the severity of nasal polyposis

Abstract

Background: Although patients with nasal polyposis frequently exhibit concomitant allergy, there is limited information about the impact of allergy on the severity of nasal polyposis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of allergy in the severity of nasal polyposis.

Methods: Polyp sizes, computed tomography (CT) scores, skin-prick test results, blood total eosinophil count, serum levels of total immunoglobulin E, symptom scores, and recurrences were analyzed in 83 patients with nasal polyposis. The results were compared between allergic and nonallergic patients with nasal polyposis.

Results: No association was found between the presence of allergy per skin-prick testing and polyp size, CT opacification, symptom scores, or recurrences (p > 0.05). In allergic patients, only the serum total eosinophil count correlated strongly with the results of CT (p = 0.005) but not with other parameters (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The results of this study show that, although patients with nasal polyposis frequently have allergies, the presence of allergy does not correlate with polyp size, symptom scores or rate of recurrence.