Histological Characteristics of Chronic Allergic Rhinitis Versus Non-allergy: Is There a Difference in the Remodeling?

Demonstrate the histological remodeling changes in the turbinates, identify the frequency of the two forms of rhinitis in the samples studied and determine the remodeling differences found in the two variants. Patients attended an otolaryngology service at the Social Security Hospital of city Sangolqui-Ecuador from February 2016 to June 2017. The allergic variant was determined when eosinophils were found by higher magnification field and non-allergic when they were not found in the submucosal segment. Epithelial, inflammatory, and stromal markers were analyzed. One hundred twenty histopathological samples were analyzed, 75% presented allergic rhinitis, the age averaged 36.2 years. When we compared between the allergic and non-allergic variants: epithelial and stromal markers we had significant differences, as well as between each of its components; except fibrosis. In relation to the inflammatory pattern, there were significant differences between the number of mast cells and stromal markers with eosinophils > 10 by field. The allergic type corresponded to 75% of patients with persistent severe rhinitis who underwent turbinectomy. Regarding remodeling, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the allergic variant. Eosinophilia greater than 10 was directly related to mastocytosis and subepithelial edema.