305 Incidence of Allergy in Patients With Benign Lesions of the Vocal Cords: Preliminary Report

BACKGROUND: Allergic inflammation commonly affects the upper and lower airways concurrently. Although allergic nasal and pulmonary effects have been well described, laryngeal effects are not well understood. In this study we investigated the incidence of allergy in patients with benign lesions of the vocal cords and types of allergens causing these reactions. METHODS: The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and written consent was obtained from all patients. A questionnaire made by the investigators taking the latest literature data into consideration were used during the study. Laryngeal examination was done with videolaryngostroboscopy and the lesions of each patients was recorded. Serum IgE levels and eosinophil levels were evaluated in all patients. All assays were carried out in duplicate. Skin prick tests on the forearm were performed in all patients using standardized latex extract containing high ammonia natural rubber latex, and a full set of 35 common. In addition, venom SPT was performed on one patient based on the subject's clinical history. Positive tests were counted as wheals of 3 mm in diameter after 20 minutes. Commercial extracts used were manufactured by Alyostal ST-IR. None of intradermal tests were performed. RESULTS: The group of 30 patients included 10 male and 20 female subjects with vocal cord pathology, having a mean age of 39.87 years. Sixteen (53.3%) patients had vocal polyp, 10 (33.3%) had nodule, 4 (13.3%) had Reinke edema. The mean IgE levels was 133.73 IU/mL, and mean eosinophil levels was 10,728.3. Dermal prick tests were found to be positive in 66.7% of the patients): The most common allergen was mite (53.3%) and grass pollen (52.3%). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion skin Prick tests were found to be highy positive in patients with bening lesions of vocal cords compared to normal population. Thus we can speculate that allergy may play a role in pathopysiology of these lesions. Further research is needed to identify the underlying pathways mediating the laryngeal response to allergy so that improved diagnostic and therapeutic techniques can be developed.