Eosinophilia and Cell Activation Mediators in Nasal Secretions

Objectives/Hypothesis In rhinologic disorders such as polyposis or rhinitis, nasal cytology allows differentiation between patients according to the degree of eosinophilia in nasal secretions. The egress of eosinophil and/or neutrophil polymorphonuclears from the underlying mucosa might correlate with the release of soluble mediators of cell activation such as the chemokine IL‐8, and such molecules of the innate immunity as the LPS‐receptor CD14 or lysozyme. We assayed the levels of these three molecules in nasal secretions in correlation with cytologic findings and especially the degree of eosinophilia.