It is reported that the majority of the basophillic cells in the nasal smear represents the same characteristics of the tissue mast cells and small portion of them is the basophilc leukocyte migrated from blood. These basophillic cells take
important
role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis. Clinically the significance of the presence of basophillic cells in nasal smear is not fully developed at present time.
In our clinic, one-hundred-sixty-three patients who have symptoms of nasal hypersensitivity are undertaken nasal smear test along with history taking, allergic skin test and total serum Ig E. of one-hundred-sixty-three nasal hypersensitive
patients,
one-hundred-three patients are diagnosed by means of whether they has the symptom triad of allergic rhinitis and positive skin test result. Of the one-hundred-sixty-three patients, thirty patients reveal basophillic cells in their nasal
secretion.
On
the basis of statistical significance, there is positive correlation between the percentage of the basophillic cells in total cells and the severity of allergic symptoms. Compared to twenty-nine normal persons, the presence of basophillic cells
in
nasal
smear shows high diagnostic specificity for allergic rhinitis. (Korean J Otolaryngol 38:6, 1995)
|