A genetic tendency toward lower blood pressure is often linked to a higher risk of developing allergic rhinitis. This is the conclusion drawn by Chinese researchers from the Fujian Provincial Children’s Hospital. The findings of their study were published in the journal Tobacco Induced Diseases (TID).
The scientists employed a method known as bidirectional Mendelian randomization, which makes it possible to assess the likelihood of a causal relationship between different conditions using genetic data. For their analysis, they selected 421 genetic variants associated with systolic blood pressure levels.
It was discovered that individuals with a genetic predisposition to lower systolic (the “top” number) blood pressure are more frequently diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. This condition is a chronic inflammation of the nasal lining triggered by allergens, such as plant pollen or dust mites.
No reverse relationship was found: a genetic predisposition to allergic rhinitis did not have any impact on blood pressure.
This points to the existence of a common biological link between the mechanisms that regulate the functions of the cardiovascular and immune systems.
Further clinical studies are needed to understand the specific mechanisms underlying this connection and to determine whether they can be harnessed for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis.
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