Coincidence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and aspirin idiosyncrasy
Andrzej M. Fal1, Anna Nowak2, Marek Nowak2
Asthma, allergic rhinitis and idiosyncrasy to aspirin stand for an increasing epidemiologic. In Poland an epidemiological study has been carried out in 11 centres, showing the occurrence of asthma at 5.4% of general population, for allergic rhinitis and idiosyncrasy – 8.5% and 0.5%, respectively. Some publications suggest more often presentation of idiosyncrasy in atopic patients. Taking under consideration high and increasing occurrence of allergy and massive use of non-steroid anti inflammatory drugs, their coincidence is quite important and we decided to investigate it. In a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed at the Department of Internal Medicine and Allergology, Wrocław Medical University, we determined a group of 1 557 patients suffering from at least of one of these conditions. Asthma has been recognized in 1 015 patients (65%), allergic rhinitis and aspirin idiosyncrasy in 495 (32%) and 363 (23%), respectively. Coincidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis has been reported in 255 patients, and coincidence of asthma or rhinitis and idiosyncrasy – in 3% and 6%, respectively. We conclude that asthma and allergic rhinitis coexist very frequently, confirming a mutual pathophysiologic background and the concept of united airways disease. Further, idiosyncrasy appears 10 times more often in allergic patients than in general population.