Allergen-Mucosal interactions within the Laryngopharynx: the case for a distinct Allergy Phenotype
While the laryngopharyngeal mucosa shares anatomical continuity with the nasal and lower airway epithelium, few studies have investigated its potential for an inherent IgE-mediated response to inhaled allergens in sensitised individuals[14 , 16 , 23 ]. Recent reviews provide comprehensive insights into this topic [14 ,16 , 18-21 , 23 , 35 , 36 ]. Collectively, these studies highlight epidemiological data which implies elevated respiratory allergy prevalence within UCTS populations and underscore the presence of mast cells within the laryngopharyngeal mucosa. Further reference is made to small scale provocation data which identifies eosinophilic inflammation of laryngopharyngeal tissues following allergen exposure in both animal and preliminary human studies. Collectively, this small but emerging literature offers a unified position which posits the existence of a distinct and potentially overlooked phenotype of respiratory allergy, provisionally termed ’Allergic Laryngitis’ (AL).