SM 184 Allergic Rhinitis Flashcards
What is Rhinitis?
Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose +/- the eyes, throat, sinuses
What causes the development of antibodies in Allergic Rhinitis?
A genetically susceptible individual is exposed to an antigen, which gets taken up by an APC that interacts with Th2 and B cells to form IgE antibodies
What cause the release of allergic mediators in Allergic Rhinitis?
Re-exposure to an antigen after sensitization results in cross linking of IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells, releasing preformed (histamine, tryptase) and rapidly made (PAF, Leukotrienes, prostaglandins) mediators
What preformed mediators are relevant in Allergic Rhinitis?
Preformed mediators released by Mast Cells include Histamine and Tryptase
What rapidly made mediators are relevant in Allergic Rhinitis?
PAF, Leukotrienes, and Prostaglandins
What are the late phase mediators in Allergic Rhinitis?
Cytokines and Chemokines
What are the two phases of the response in Allergic Rhinitis?
The two phases in Allergic Rhinitis are Early Phase (sneezing and itchy eyes) as well as a Late Phase (inflammation and congestion)
What is primarily used to diagnose Allergic Rhinitis?
Dx relies on History
What considerations should be used in the history of Allergic Rhinitis?
Symptoms, time of year, and location
What features are seen on physical exam in Allergic Rhinitis?
Bilateral nasal polyps, nasal septal perforation
What do bilateral nasal polyps suggest?
CF, Sinusitis
What do monoliteral nasal polyps suggest?
Cancer
What does nasal septal perforation suggest?
Trauma, cocaine use
How can Allergic Rhinitis be tested for?
Skin Testing > Blood IgE Testing
What is the best treatment for Allergic Rhinitis?
Avoidance measures, to decrease exposures
What medications treat Allergic Rhinitis?
Nasal steroids, nasal/oral antihistamines, leukotriene inhibitors and mast cell stabilizers
What is an example of a mast cell stabilizer?
Cromolyn
What is an example of a leukotriene inhibitor?
Montelukast
Can immunotherapy treat Allergic Rhinitis?
Yes, especially allergy shots, which significantly decrease symptoms in aeroallergens
How does Allergic Rhinitis affect other respiratory diseases?
Allergic Rhinitis can worsen sinusitis, asthma, and sleep apnea
How does a person with Rhinitis present?
Red eyes, sneezing/congestion/runny nose, itchy or sore throat with a post-nasal drip
What are some of the costs of Allergic Rhinitis?
Px miss work, lose productivity, and worsens quality of life
How do Tcells activate Bcells?
MHCII presentation + IL-4 + IL-13
Describe sensitization in Allergic Rhinitis?
Interaction between APC’s like Tcells and Bcells that results in the production of antigen-specific IgE
Describe reexposure in Allergic Rhinitis?
Preformed IgE on mast cells binds an antigen and cross-links, leading to immediate histamine and tryptase release
What symptoms do the preformed mediators cause?
Since the preformed mediators are released early in Allergic Rhinitis, they cause sneezing and itching