Natural allergen exposure does not influence the density of goblet cells in the nasal mucosa of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled group-comparative study in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis was performed to investigate the possible influence of natural allergen exposure on the differentiation of goblet cells in the nasal mucosa. Furthermore, the effect of topical steroid treatment on such a putative influence was evaluated. Twenty adult patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to birch pollen were studied. Mucosal samples were obtained by scrapings before and during the pollen season and processed to evaluate the number of goblet cells/mm of intact epithelial lining. No statistically significant differences were found neither when comparing the number of goblet cells before and during the season nor when comparing the 2 treatment groups. In conclusion, the allergic inflammation could not be shown to accelerate the differentiation of goblet cells, and the beneficial effect of topical steroid treatment could not be explained by a prevention of increased goblet cell density.