The influence of iris color and retina pigment epithelium melanin on allergic rhinitis

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The influence of iris color and retina pigment epithelium melanin on allergic rhinitis

Dereköy, S., Kenar, F., Fatma Yavaş, G., Küsbeci, T., Öztürk, F., & Ayçiçek, A. (2016). The influence of iris color and retina pigment epithelium melanin on allergic rhinitis. ENT Updates, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.2399/jmu.2016001006

Authors

  • Sefa Dereköy

    Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
  • Fethullah Kenar

    Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey
  • Güliz Fatma Yavaş

    Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
  • Tuncay Küsbeci

    Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
  • Faruk Öztürk

    Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey
  • Abdullah Ayçiçek

    Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

Objective: The purpose of this case control study is to establish the influence of iris color and retina pigment epithelium melanin on allergic rhinitis.

Methods: Ninety-nine subjects diagnosed prospectively as allergic rhinitis and 85 control subjects were included in the study. Color of iris was recorded after ophthalmic examination. Electro-oculographic measurement was done after pupil dilatation and Arden ratios were recorded.

Results: Mean age was 29.44±9.8 years in subject with allergic rhinitis and 32.67±12.9 years in control subjects (p>0.05). Measured mean Arden ratio was 158.22±29.4 in subjects with allergic rhinitis and 179.34±29.3 in normal subjects (p<0.05). In control group, Arden ratio was significantly higher in eyes with brown iris (p<0.05). In subjects with allergic rhinitis, Arden ratio was significantly lower in brown eyes (p<0.05).

Conclusion: An association between allergic rhinitis and melanin content of iris and retina pigment epithelium was found. It can be speculated that pigment-producing system may play a role in the pathogenesis of the allergic rhinitis.

Keywords:

Allergic rhinitis iris color retina pigment epithelium Arden ratio melanin

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