TARC Levels In Rhinosinusitis

A Th2 chemokine, thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) has been shown to be elevated in subjects with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), so we hypothesized that TARC would also be increased in subjects with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) when compared to subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and atopic controls. TARC was measured by ELISA in 16 subjects with AFS, 14 with CRS, and 9 atopic controls. IgE was measured by ImmunoCAP 100. Statistical analysis by one-way ANOVA was performed. TARC in AFS subjects ranged from 135-1600 pg/mL (mean 574) and total IgE ranged from 28-6740 kU/L (mean 2130). TARC in the CRS subjects ranged from 203-581 pg/mL (mean 403) with total IgE ranging from 25-1081 kU/L (mean 363). Atopic control TARC levels ranged from 95-457 pg/mL (mean 262) with total IgE ranging from 23-2461 kU/L (mean 417). TARC did not statistically significantly differ between AFS and CRS subjects or between CRS subjects and atopic controls. TARC in AFS subjects was significantly higher than in atopic controls (p < 0.05). IgE was significantly higher in AFS subjects versus CRS subjects and controls (p < 0.01, <0.04), but was not significantly different in CRS subjects versus controls. In our study population, TARC tended to be higher, but was not statistically different in subjects with AFS compared with CRS subjects. AFS subjects did have statistically significant higher TARC than atopic controls. AFS subjects have a higher incidence of atopy than CRS subjects, but TARC does not seem to play an important role in this difference.