Immunologic Evaluation of Nasal Polyps

Abstract

Forty-seven patients undergoing nasal polypectomy and 27 adult tonsillectomy patients were studied regarding history of allergy, duration of symptoms, and previous polypectomies. At surgery, samples of serum, tissues, and nasal washes were obtained for evaluation of total and allergen-specific IgE. Serum IgE levels were not significantly higher in polypectomy patients. The IgE/mg of protein was significantly greater in polyp than tonsil tissue. Allergen-specific IgE levels did not differ in polyp and tonsil patients, nor was bacterial specific IgE detected in polyp patients. Allergen-specific IgG4 levels and the ratios of specific IgG4 to specific IgE did not differ between the patient groups.