RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Nasal airway resistance and correlation with lower airway involvement in allergic rhinitis JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP p983 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Aparna Iyer A1 Amita Athavale YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p983.abstract AB Background: Allergic rhinitis often precedes onset of asthma. Nasal airflow obstruction is measured by rhinomanometry.Aims and objectives: Determining nasal airflow obstruction by active anterior rhinomanometryCorrelating nasal resistance with clinical severity of rhinitis and incidence of latent lower airway involvement.Materials and methods: 32 patients with allergic rhinitis underwent active anterior rhinomanometry followed by spirometry.If spirometry was normal; histamine challenge test was performed.Results: 56% of patients with mild rhinitis and 94% with moderate-severe rhinitis had significantly raised nasal airway resistance values. (> 0.3 Pa/cc/sec) [1](p<0.05)71.9% of patients with allergic rhinitis had lower airway involvement though they had no clinical evidence of asthma.87.5% of patients with raised nasal resistance compared to 25% with lower values had airway involvement. (p=0.001)94% of patients with moderate-severe rhinitis and 83% of patients with persistent rhinitis compared to 50% patients with mild and 44% with intermittent symptoms had lower airway involved.(p<0.05)Conclusions: Clinical severity of allergic rhinitis correlated with nasal airway resistance values measured by active anterior rhinomanometry.71.9% patients with allergic rhinitis had lower airway involvement despite being asymptomatic for asthma, incidence being greater in patients with severe and persistent disease.Proportion of patients with lower airway involvement is greater among those with significantly raised nasal airway resistance by rhinomanometry.Ref:1. Suzina AH et al: Objective assessment of nasal resistance in patients with nasal disease. J of laryngology and otology, 2003,117