Comparison of Two Different Criteria for Specific Antibody Deficiency in Patients With Chronic and Recurrent Rhinosinusitis.

Background: Specific antibody deficiency (SAD) is highly associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and is defined by inadequate post-vaccination percentage of protective (≥1.3 ug/mL) pneumococcal antibody serotypes divided by total tested serotypes (post-pPA).

Objective: Although  < 70% post-pPA has been used commonly as the criterion for SAD, we sought to evaluate the clinical outcome of a different definition of SAD.

Methods: 203 patients aged 6 to 70 years with CRS were classified, retrospectively by pre-vaccination pPA (pre-pPA) and post-pPA by two different criteria. Using 70% as the threshold for adequate pneumococcal antibody (PA) response, patients were classified as: Group A (adequate pre-pPA), Group B (inadequate pre-pPA, adequate post-pPA), Group C (inadequate pre-pPA, inadequate post-pPA, SAD). Using 50% as the threshold, patients were similarly classified as: Group A', B' and C'.

Results: The recurrence rate of sinusitis during the next one year in Group A (pre-pPA ≥70%) was significantly less than that of Group A' (pre-pPA ≥50%) (10% vs. 34%, P = .03). Group A had lower incidence of sinusitis than Group B (pre-pPA < 70%, post-pPA ≥70%) (10% vs. 34%, P = .025). Among Group B' patients, the recurrence rate of sinusitis was significantly less among those with post-pPA of ≥70% than those with 50%-69% (28% vs. 69%, P < .01).

Conclusion: Employment of a 70% pPA threshold for SAD in comparison to a 50% threshold would decrease the incidence of sinusitis in the next one year by vaccinating patients in 51-69% pPA range. Pre-existing PAs (Group A) yielded a higher protection against sinusitis than vaccine-acquired antibodies (Group B).