Özet
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Abstract
To evaluate the prevalence of paranasal sinus pathology and investigate the relationship of sinusoidal mucosal inflammation with serum eosinophilia and IgE levels in asthmatic outpatients. Following the medical history and physical examination, we evaluated sinus x-rays (Water's graphy) in 82 asthmatic outpatients. Pulmonary function tests were performed with a dry spirometer. Serum eosinophil percentage was determined using a hemocounter and serum total IgE level by nephelometric technique. Statistical analyses were done by X-square, t-test and correlation tests. The mean age of patients was 42.82 13.28 years and 74% were women. Duration of asthma was 7.50 7.36 years. 82% of patients were symptomatic for asthma during evaluation. Mean FEV1 was 1.98 0.69L and FEV1/FVC was 66 14%. Serum total IgE level was 137.85 147.53 IU/ml while eosinophil percentage was found to be 4.05 3.72. Water's graphy was normal in 44 of the patients (53.6%). At least one of radiological findings of sinusitis was detected in 38 of the cases (46.4%). There was maxillary sinus mucosal thickening in 35.4%, air-fluid level in 14.6% and polyp-cyst in 6.1%.There was no correlation between paranasal sinus pathology and duration of asthma (p=0.065) or severity of asthma (FEV1%) (p=0.856). There was no difference in eosinophil levels between asthmatic patients who had a paranasal sinus pathology and the ones who did not (p=0.832). Although mean serum IgE level was higher in patients with sinusitis, statistically significant difference was not detected (p=0.968). Proper management of sinusitis may improve asthmatic symptoms and decrease need for medication.We suggest that asthmatic patients should be searched routinely for the presence of occult sinusitis.