Evaluation of Activated Eosinophil Infiltration for the Assessment of the Effect of Chemosurgical Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis Using Trichloroacetic Acid

Abstract

An immunohistochemical study was made on the degree of activated eosinophil (EG2) infiltration in the inferior turbinate of 20 cases of perennial allergic rhinitis who underwent septal reconstruction and bilateral inferior turbinectomy approximately 5 months after the unilateral application of trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The distribution of EG2 was also evaluated in nasal smears obtained from the same subjects, and a comparison was made between TCA-applied and nonapplied sides. It was found that the number of EG2 was significantly decreased in the TCA-applied side. It was assumed that TCA application successfully suppressed reagin-dependent allergic reaction in the tissues.