Bronchial hyperreactivity and chronic rhinitis

It has been observed that many patients with chronic rhinitis (CR) also have bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) suggesting a causal relationship between the two conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of BRH in CR and to determine the predictive factors of the association. In a prospective cross-sectional study we included 80 patients followed for CR who had a methacholine bronchial challenge test. Forty percent of the patients had HRB. It was moderate to severe in 41% of cases and mild in 59% of cases. HRB was more common in allergic rhinitis (AR) in patients older than 20 years and in men. Forty percent of AR patients with monosensitisation to allergens had HRB compared with 11% of those with multiple sensitisation (p=0.002). There was no significant relationship between BMI and HRB. This study highlights the close link between the upper and lower airways and the role of certain risk factors such as the type of sensitisation as an early prognostic marker of HRB in rhinitis.