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image of The Association of Allergic Rhinitis with Chronic Adenotonsillar Diseases and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Abstract

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis (AR) has long been considered to be associated with chronic adenotonsillar disease (CATD). However, their causal relationship remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between AR and CATD and to examine the mediating role of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in this association.

Methods

This study employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design using genetic instrumental variable analysis. Data for allergic rhinitis (AR) were obtained from the MRC IEU OpenGWAS data infrastructure, data for chronic adenotonsillar disease (CATD) from the FinnGen biobank, and data for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) from the GWAS Catalog. Several MR methods were applied. In addition, a two-step MR approach was used to investigate the mediating role of CRS in the relationship between AR and CATD.

Results

MR analysis identified a positive correlation between AR and CATD. IVW and weighted median analyses showed significant causal effects (beta = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.84); 0.001). No causal association was found between CATD and AR. AR and CRS showed a positive correlation (beta = 1.38, 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.98; 6.5 × 10-6). CRS had a beta value of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.24; 0.001) for CATD. CRS mediates 37.6% of the AR to CATD pathway (mediation effect = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.37; 0.013).

Discussion

These findings indicate that AR may contribute to CATD risk through CRS, highlighting the need for further research to explore underlying biological mechanisms and validate these findings.

Conclusions

This study suggests a positive causal relationship between AR and CATD, with CRS acting as a mediator.

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2026-01-08
2026-01-29

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The Association of Allergic Rhinitis with Chronic Adenotonsillar Diseases and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Bentham Science Publishers ; https://doi.org/10.2174/0113862073428198251103103134
/content/journals/cchts/10.2174/0113862073428198251103103134
/content/journals/cchts/10.2174/0113862073428198251103103134
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis ; mendelian randomization ; Allergic rhinitis ; genome-wide association studies ; chronic adenotonsillar diseases ; genetic instrumental variable analysis

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