system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adult, Bronchial Hyperreactivity, Bronchial Provocation Tests, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Humans, Interleukin-18, Male, Middle Aged, Pollen, Rhinitis, Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal, Seasons, Young Adult.
user
Is bronchial hyperresponsiveness in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients associated with increased IL-18 during natural pollen exposure? Context: The mechanism of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is not certain in seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) patients. We aimed to investigate the effects of natural pollen exposure on IL-18 and its relationship with BHR. Thirty-two SAR patients with grass pollen sensitivity, 14 nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) patients and 17 normal-controls were included. Sixteen SAR patients had BHR during pollen season and off-season. Serum IL-18 levels were measured in SAR patients during pollen season between May-August and off-season between November-February. IL-18 levels were measured in NAR patients and normal controls once. During pollen season, SAR patients with BHR had significantly increased levels of IL-18 than those without BHR (279.2 ± 161.1 versus 145.3 ± 101.0 pg/ml, p=0.012). Serum IL-18 levels were not different between SAR patients with and without BHR during off-season (233.8 ± 139.7 versus 183.2 ± 162.9 pg/ml, p=0.16). Serum IL-18 levels in SAR patients during pollen season (212.3 ± 148.8 pg/ml) and off-season (208.5 ± 151.5 pg/ml) were not different than those NAR patients (224.8 ± 180.1 pg/ml, p=0.98 and p=1.0, respectively) and normal controls (174.8 ± 76.0 pg/ml, p=0.60 and p=0.76, respectively).
assistant
The results suggested us that BHR in SAR patients is associated with increased IL-18 during natural pollen exposure. Final Decision: yes