2006 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
THE PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA AMONG ALLERGIC RHINITIS USING PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW
Dr Mohammed Herrag, Dr Fouad Nia, Dr Hassan Essbai. Pulmonology- allergology Ibn sina university hospital, Rabat Morocco,
RATIONALE:: We aimed to study atopic status, prevalence of asthma and the benefit of
using peak expiratory flow (PEF) follow-up in the diagnosis of asthma at
allergic rhinitis (AR)patients.
Methods: We examined 160 (43%male, 72%female, mean age of 32 years) all
AR patients had never been assessed for asthma. Their allergic status
determined by skin prick tests. All of the subjects filled a questionnaire for
presence of asthma like symptoms. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) and 2 weeks
PEF measurements (two times daily) were determined for the patients who defined
asthma like symptoms.
Results: Positive skin prick tests to grass were present at 71 patients,
to tree at 51 patients, to mite at 46 patients and to epidermal mixture at 26
patients (79.8%, 57.3%, 51.7% and 29.2% respectively.) Nasal polyps were
present in 25 AR patients (28.1%). 36 subjects (41%) defined asthma symptoms in
their questionnaires. PFTs results of these 36 subjects were; 4 obstructive
(11%), 32 normal (89%). 32 subjects who defined asthma symptoms and had normal
PFT values, underwent 15 days PEF follow-up. 16 (50%) subjects had 20% diurnal
variable positive PEF follow-up. 16 (+) PEF patients defined reduced in their
respiratory symptoms after a 3 month low dose inhaler steroid therapy.
Conclusions: AR and asthma often coexist in the same patients, even
though PFTs had been detected normal, allergic rhinitis patients should undergo
PEF follow-up for the determination of asthma and creation of better strategies
for the integral treatment.