Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Clin Exp Allergy. 2010 Mar;40(3):398-402. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2009.03399.x. Epub 2009 Nov 23.
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a relevant risk factor for the onset of asthma, and a close association exists between the nose and the bronchi. Recently, it has been evidenced that the duration of AR and mite allergy represent high risks for spirometric impairment in allergic adults.
To evaluate a group of AR children, without bronchial symptoms, to investigate spirometric impairments.
Two hundred children with moderate-severe AR were consecutively evaluated. Clinical examination, skin prick test, and spirometry were performed in all children.
Thirty-one percent of the children had forced expiratory flow at 25% and 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25-75%)<80% of the predicted values and 11% had both forced expiratory volume in 1 s and FEF25-75%<80% of the predicted values. Rhinitis duration and sensitization to house dust mites were significantly associated with impaired values of these spirometric parameters.
This study highlights the close link between the upper and the lower airways and the role of some risk factors, such as long duration and mite sensitization, as early prognostic markers of bronchial involvement in children with AR and perceiving nasal symptoms alone.
过敏性鼻炎（AR）是哮喘发病的相关危险因素，鼻腔与支气管之间存在密切联系。最近有证据表明，AR 的持续时间和尘螨过敏是过敏性成年人肺功能障碍的高风险因素。
评估一组无支气管症状的 AR 儿童，以调查其肺功能障碍情况。
连续评估了 200 名中重度 AR 儿童。对所有儿童进行临床检查、皮肤点刺试验和肺功能检查。
31%的儿童 25%和 75%肺活量时的用力呼气流量（FEF25-75%）<预计值的 80%，11%的儿童 1 秒用力呼气量和 FEF25-75%<预计值的 80%。鼻炎持续时间和对屋尘螨的过敏与这些肺功能参数的受损值显著相关。
本研究强调了上呼吸道和下呼吸道之间的紧密联系，以及一些危险因素（如持续时间长和尘螨过敏）的作用，这些因素可作为 AR 儿童出现鼻部症状但无支气管症状时支气管受累的早期预后标志物。
