Atopic aspect of eosinophilic nasal polyposis and a possible mechanism of eosinophil accumulation.

Eosinophil-infiltrated nasal polyps (eosinophilic polyps) have been increasing in Japan. This increase is parallel with an increase in cases of nasal allergy, and is an interesting contrast to the decrease in chronic infectious nasal diseases. Thus IgE-mediated hypersensitivity could be considered an etiologic factor of eosinophilic polyposis. However only 29.7% of patients with eosinophilic polyposis were defined as being atopic. In this study, high levels of IgG-immune complex were found in eosinophilic polyp fluid. It is conceivable that the IgG-immune complex may play some part in tissue eosinophilia of polyps.