Polyps in the nose triggers asthma?

Asthma specialist conference in Hanover: polyps in the nose: triggers for asthma?

Nasal polyps are responsible for patients suffering from bronchial asthma. Because the polyps are carriers of bacteria to which the body with with a strong production of „Immunoglobulin E“ (IgE) reacts. Immunoglobulin E are antibodies that are supposed to repel parasites. However, they are also responsible for allergies.

According to recent findings, many severe asthma disorders are a consequence of polyps in the nose. This was reported by Prof. Claus Bachert, Chairman of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI), at the German Allergy Congress in Hannover, the capital of Lower Saxony. According to recent studies, about eight in ten asthma patients have polyps with the bacterial strain „staphylococci“ been found. Staphylococci are Gram-positive so-called globular bacteria, which are stored in irregular clusters. They occur above all on skin and in the mucous membranes of humans. Of these bacterial strains, there are numerous subspecies and forms. For many, the human organism reacts with a strong production of immunoglobulin E (IgE). That happens in about 40 percent of the cases.

For physicians, immunoglobulin E is a typical allergy antibody. "It is the substance that arms the immunologically active mast cells and ensures allergic symptoms in the case of allergen contact," explained Professor Claus Bachert at the Allergy Conference in Hanover.

Immunoglobulin E is directed against a variety of different allergens. But patients with polyps often do not get allergy but asthma. But there is hope as Claus Bachert reports. Because studies have shown that there are already antibodies against the IgE. So the professor said: "We can successfully treat it with an already available monoclonal antibody against IgE, which has resulted in a placebo-controlled study."

In the study it could be observed that the administration of the monoclonal antibodies could displace polyps and asthma symptoms. So there was a "significant decline in polyps and asthma symptoms". At the conference, Bachert emphasized that the study revealed a new disease that was previously unknown. A variety of asthma patients can now hope for new treatment approaches. (sb, 11.09.2010)

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