Background

Rhinitis is a common problem [1,2,3] and is troublesome on its own, but it has also been shown to be a risk factor for developing bronchial hyper-responsiveness and asthma [4, 5]. Multimorbidity involving the triad of rhinitis, asthma and eczema exists among both atopic and non-atopic individuals, although the prevalence is higher among atopic individuals [6,7,8,9]. About 74–90% of subjects with allergic asthma also have rhinitis [5, 10, 11]. Rhinitis, irrespective of atopic status, is a risk factor for developing asthma, but it has also been found that the co-occurrence of the two conditions is much more likely in atopic individuals [2, 3, 11]. The worldwide prevalence of allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema in children under 18 years of age is 13%, 12% and 8% respectively [1]. The corresponding prevalence among adults is 4.5% for asthma and 20.9% for rhinitis [12]. Eczema among adults is estimated at 7.1% [13]. The prevalence of having all three atopic disorders was 1% in children [1]. The likelihood of having all three conditions together was 10 times higher than could be expected by chance [1, 14].

Multimorbidity increases the socioeconomic and psychological burden of atopic disorders [15, 16]. Considerable research has focused on discovering the risk factors for each atopic disorder separately, [5,6,7, 14, 17,18,19] but the reason why some individuals are limited to just having rhinitis and some develop additional atopic disorders is still not entirely known.

In one study, there was no difference in systemic or local eosinophilic inflammation between subjects with birch pollen allergy who had rhinitis or rhinitis and asthma [9]. There was also no difference in the pattern of degranulation for eosinophils and neutrophils after allergen exposure between these two groups [20]. Aronson et al. found that participants with allergic rhinitis and bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR) had lower exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels than those with allergic rhinitis and asthma [5]. In another study, participants with asthma had higher levels of leukotrienes in induced sputum than those with rhinitis [21]. It has been reported that individuals with rhinitis and asthma have higher peripheral FENO levels than those with only rhinitis and that subjects with allergic rhinitis and asthma have more peripheral airway obstruction after a methacholine challenge than those with only allergic rhinitis [4, 10]. This indicates that peripheral airway inflammation distinguishes those with allergic rhinitis and asthma from those with only allergic rhinitis. According to some authors developing allergic rhinitis is more strongly associated with sensitization to seasonal allergens, [6, 11, 22] whereas those that developed asthma were more likely to be sensitised to perennial allergens, compared with seasonal allergens [11, 22, 23].

The multiplex allergen component technique has significantly increased our understanding of atopic multimorbidity, allowing for a more detailed insight into the profiles of atopic individuals. This technique has several advantages compared with extract-based tests. Breaking the IgE-mediated response into components allows us to see patterns of IgE sensitisation to various proteins which are associated with different clinical symptoms [24].

The aim of this investigation was to compare subjects with only rhinitis with those that have rhinitis in combination with asthma and/or eczema in relation to IgE sensitisation, inflammatory markers, family history, lung function and BMI.

Methods

Population

The study was based on subjects who participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS II), which is the 10-year follow-up of an international multicentre study of asthma and allergy. The design of ECRHS I and II has been published in detail [25]. Subjects who had participated in Stage 2 of ECRHS I were invited to participate in ECRHS II. Each participant was sent a brief questionnaire (Stage 1) and, among those who responded, a random sample was invited to undergo a more detailed clinical examination (Stage 2). A ‘‘symptomatic’’ sample consisting of additional subjects who reported symptoms of waking with shortness of breath, asthma attacks, or using asthma medication in Stage 1 was also studied. In ECRHS II, 679 subjects from ECRHS I were re-investigated. The subjects answered a standardised questionnaire administered by trained interviewers. A total of 467 subjects were examined with ImmunoCAP ISAC and underwent lung function tests and blood tests for analyses of inflammatory markers. This study comprised 216 people with allergic rhinitis who were examined with ImmunoCAP ISAC (Fig. 1). Among the subjects with allergic rhinitis, 70 had asthma.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flow chart for the inclusion of subjects

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Questionnaires

The ECRHS II main questionnaire (http://www.ecrhs.org) [26] was used to obtain information about respiratory symptoms, smoking history, parental allergy and asthma.

Rhinitis was defined as having had problems sneezing, or a runny or blocked nose when not having a cold in the last 12 months [8].

Eczema was defined as having an itchy rash that came and went for at least 6 months and having had this problem within the past 12 months [27].

Asthma was defined as ever being diagnosed with asthma and having had an asthma attack or one of the following symptoms during the past 12 months: nocturnal chest tightness, attack of shortness of breath, chest wheezing, or whistling [28].

Allergy testing

The presence of IgE antibodies was examined using microarray chip technology (ImmunoCAP ISAC; Thermo Fischer Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden) [29, 30]. The chip had 103 native or recombinant allergen components from 43 allergen sources. Specific IgE was reported as ISAC Standardised Units (ISU), which is a semi-quantitative estimate of the actual specific IgE titre. Subjects were regarded as being non-IgE sensitised if the signal could not be measured or was very low (< 0.3 ISU). The IgE sensitisation pattern was grouped into four allergen sources categories: food allergens, seasonal allergens (pollen), perennial allergens (animal, mite and mould) and other allergen sources (latex, annual mercury, bee venom, anisakis).

Inflammatory markers

Exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) measurements were made using an exhalation flow of 50 mL/s [31]. The system used for NO measurements was a computer-based single-breath NO system from Nitrograf (Hässelby, Sweden) that used a chemiluminescence analyser (Sievers NOA 280; Sievers, Boulder, Col, USA). Peripheral or alveolar FENO was estimated by calculating the flow-independent alveolar nitric oxide concentration (CANO) was estimated by analysing the fractional exhaled NO concentration obtained at three different rates (5, 100 and 500 mL s−1) and the Högman-Meriläinen algorithm [32].

Blood samples were collected for eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). Samples were kept at 24 °C for 60 min before centrifuging. The concentration of s-ECP was assayed with a double antibody radioimmunoassay (Pharmacia diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden). Blood samples collected for C-reactive protein (CRP) were analysed on a Hitachi 911 analyser using a commercially available latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay from Roche. The lower detection limit of the assay is 0.1 mg/L.

Lung function

FEV1 was measured using a dry rolling-seal spirometer (Model 2130; SensorMedics, Anaheim, Cal, USA). Up to five technically acceptable manoeuvres were measured. American Thoracic Society recommendations were followed [33]. The predicted values for FEV1 were calculated on the basis of European Coal and Steel Union reference values [34]. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.

Statistical methods

Statistical analyses were performed using STATA (14; StataCorp, College Station, Tex). Non-normally distributed variables, FENO, total IgE and ECP, were log transformed before analysis. The material was divided into four groups according to the prevalence of atopic conditions: rhinitis only; rhinitis and eczema; rhinitis and asthma; rhinitis, asthma and eczema. The χ2 test and ANOVA with Bonferroni correction were used when comparing these four groups. Logistic regression was used when analysing an independent association to having rhinitis with asthma and/or eczema as opposed to only having rhinitis. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

This study comprised 216 participants with rhinitis, of whom 89 also had asthma and/or eczema (Fig. 2). The participants were divided into four groups based on the presence or absence of asthma and or eczema. The characteristics of these four groups are presented in Table 1. Significant group differences were found for BMI and FEV1, with the lowest mean value for both variables in the group with both asthma and eczema. Looking at individual groups, FEV1 was significantly lower in the groups with asthma and the group with asthma and eczema compared with those with only rhinitis (P < 0.001). No difference in FEV1 was found between subjects with rhinitis and those with both rhinitis and eczema. BMI was significantly lower in the group with asthma and eczema compared with those that only had asthma (P = 0.04).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Asthma and eczema in participants with rhinitis. *The distribution of rhinitis subjects (n = 216) and subjects with eczema (n = 39) within different subgroups

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Table 1 Characteristics of the participants based on whether they had asthma and or eczema
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There was a significant group difference in relation to having an allergic mother, with the higher prevalence in the group with rhinitis and eczema. No other significant association was found for parental allergy or asthma. There was also a significant difference in relation to medication, with the highest use of antihistamines and inhaled corticosteroids in the group that had all three atopic disorders (Table 1).

Inflammatory markers and total IgE

There was a significant difference between the groups regarding total IgE but not in relation to other inflammatory markers (Table 2). Looking at individual groups, total IgE was significantly higher in the groups with rhinitis and asthma (P < 0.001) and the group with rhinitis, asthma and eczema compared with those with only rhinitis (P < 0.001).

Table 2 Inflammatory markers and total IgE in the participants (geometric mean (95% confidence interval)
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IgE sensitisation

IgE sensitisation to the different allergen components in the ISAC panel is presented in Fig. 3 and Additional file 1. There were significant group differences for many types of IgE sensitisation, with the highest prevalence in the group with rhinitis, eczema and asthma (Table 3). There were also significant group differences in the number of IgE-positive allergen components, with the highest number in the group with rhinitis, eczema and asthma (Fig. 4). In addition, the sensitization pattern between the rhinitis participants and participants with rhinitis, eczema and asthma differs in terms of IgE levels (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Sensitisation to allergen components in the ISAC panel. *The column on the left represents subjects with only rhinitis and the column on the right subjects with rhinitis that also have eczema, asthma or both. The darker the colour (yellow, orange, red), the higher the test result

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Table 3 IgE sensitisation in the participants
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Fig. 4
figure 4

Association between the number of IgE-positive allergen components and having rhinitis with asthma/eczema. *median and interquartile range

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Multivariable analyses

Mother’s allergy, high total IgE, low FEV1, being IgE sensitised and the number of IgE-positive allergen components were independently associated with having rhinitis with asthma and or eczema (Table 4). When analysing different types of sensitisation, the strongest association was found in participants that were IgE sensitised to both perennial and seasonal allergens. Of the perennial allergens only sensitization to furry animals and moulds had a significant association to atopic multimorbidity (Table 3). The association between total IgE and atopic multimorbidity remained significant after adjusting for IgE sensitization to specific allergens [adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.38 (1.21–4.69)].

Table 4 Variables associated with having asthma with eczema and/or asthma compared with only having rhinitis
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Discussion

The main finding in the present study is that participants with allergic rhinitis that also had asthma and/or eczema were more likely to have IgE polysensitisation, higher total IgE, a history of maternal allergy and lower lung function than subjects that only had rhinitis.

We have used a multiplex allergen component technique to evaluate the association between atopic multimorbidity and IgE sensitisation. Subjects with only allergic rhinitis were sensitized to fewer allergens, compared with those with allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema. This is in accordance with previous observations from other studies [8, 11]. Sensitisation to more allergens is associated with more severe forms of asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis individually [18, 19, 24, 35,36,37]. Participants with all three disorders were more likely to be sensitised to perennial allergens. The risk was even higher if the participants were sensitised to both perennial and seasonal allergens. This is in accordance with studies showing that polysensitisation is common in individuals that have both asthma and rhinitis compared with those that only have rhinitis [6, 11, 22]. Previous studies have shown that participants with eczema also display a greater tendency towards polysensitisation [6]. We also found that high total IgE is associated with atopic multimorbidity, even after adjusting for specific IgE sensitisation. This is in accordance with previous findings [38, 39].

Having an allergic mother was more common in participants with rhinitis and concomitant asthma and eczema, whereas no significant association was found for paternal allergy or asthma. Previous studies have shown that subjects with a maternal history of allergies run a four times higher risk, whereas paternal allergy was associated with a two times higher risk of having two or more atopic disorders [11, 40].

No statistically significant difference was found for any of the inflammatory markers in this study when comparing those with atopic multimorbidity with those with only rhinitis. Previous studies have found higher FENO levels in participants with both allergic rhinitis and asthma as opposed to just allergic rhinitis [5, 10]. Levels of FENO have a quantitative relationship with the degree of IgE sensitisation and are associated with a higher degree of bronchial responsiveness, obstruction and risk of developing asthma [41, 42]. Previous studies have indicated that a more peripheral airway inflammation distinguishes those with asthma and rhinitis from those with only rhinitis [4, 5]. There was, however, no association between the flow-independent alveolar NO concentration and having atopic multimorbidity in the present study. It is possible to speculate that the FENO values may have been influenced by the higher use of inhaled corticosteroids that was observed with increasing atopic multimorbidity [43]. We did not find a significant difference in serum ECP levels between the groups, suggesting that there is no difference in eosinophilic inflammation. This is in accordance with other studies showing the same degree of eosinophilic inflammation in blood, nasal mucosa and bronchial mucosa during the pollen season, in subjects with only rhinitis and those with rhinitis in combination with asthma [9, 20, 21, 44]. We did not find any association between atopic multimorbidity and CRP and this is in accordance with the results from previous findings [28].

In the present study, FEV1 was significantly lower in the groups with asthma and the group with asthma and eczema compared with those with only rhinitis.

The strength of these data is that the study is population based. An extensive IgE analysis was performed using the multiplex allergen component technique which minimises the risk of missing relevant allergens. One limitation is that the group categorisation was based on self-reported data and the relatively small sample size could affect the statistical results. Furthermore, inflammatory markers were not available for all subjects. The definition of eczema in our study could also cover other skin conditions and lead to an overestimation of the prevalence of eczema in our study.

Evaluating a polysensitised patient in clinical practice is challenging. The multiplex component-based allergen microarray has great potential for use both clinically and in research. It has been shown that IgE sensitisation to grass pollen precedes allergic symptoms by several years, [24] starting with a mono- or oligosensitisation to allergen components during the preclinical and early stages of allergic rhinitis [24]. In future, testing at-risk individuals could be used to find patients that might benefit from specific allergen immunotherapy to prevent more severe atopic multimorbidity later in life [45,46,47].

Conclusion

IgE polysensitization, namely to perennial and seasonal allergens, and levels of total IgE appear to be one of the main differences between subjects with atopic multimorbidity compared with those with only rhinitis. This indicates that disease-modifying treatment targeting IgE sensitisation, such as specific allergen immunotherapy, may be of value in reducing the risk of developing atopic multimorbidity. More prospective studies that include adult participants are warranted in order to investigate this further.