A reader wrote about this year being very bad for allergies/hay fever for her. DAO, REAL sudafed, etc only made a small dent in it. She tried niacin (the flushing type) and fibrinolytics (bromelain, serrapetase, lumbrokinease, nattokinease) which made a much bigger improvement …. what gives?

For back references:

• moderating-histamines-more-herbs Post
• Reflections on the Treatment of Histamine Over-sensitivity Post
• Histamines and Anticoagulants – a review

Allergy and Coagulation

• Role of the coagulation system in allergic inflammation in the upper airways. [2008]
  • ” The results of this study suggest that activation of the coagulation system occurs during the allergic response and that thrombin plays a crucial role in the regulation of mucin production in the upper airways.”
• [Coagulation and anticoagulation systems of the blood in allergic diseases]. 1988
• Platelets and allergic inflammation. 2014
• The Mast Cell, Contact, and Coagulation System Connection in Anaphylaxis. 2017
• “The pathogenesis of mast cell degranulation and CSU was also shown to be associated with the activation of hemostatic factors such as fibrinogen and FXIIa. ” [2018]
• “These three cases illustrate the potential role platelets may have in anaphylaxis and possible increased secondary risk for the development of thrombosis. Larger studies are required to determine incidence and risk factors for bloodclots following anaphylaxis in order to provide management or screening recommendations.” [2018]

Different Allergy Mechanisms

• “The immune-mediated adverse reaction to food is defined as food allergy (FA) which is roughly divided into IgE mediated or non-IgE mediated FA (NFA)… there is far less of an understanding of NFA than IgE-mediated FA and its clinical relevance is likely under-estimated in most cases…The lack of easily accessible diagnostic measures also contributes to the problem.  ” [2008]
  • This also applies to Hay Fever and other allergies
• “Although pathogenesis of NFA is still not well understood, recent studies indicate widely variable clinical manifestations of NFA…This review discusses recent progress in our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of gut immune homeostasis and recently revealed widely variable clinical presentations of NFA with respect to it pathogenesis.” [2012]
• Inhibition of IgE- and non-IgE-mediated histamine release from human basophil leukocytes in vitro by a histamine H1-antagonist, desethoxycarbonyl-loratadine. 1994
• “Nonallergic rhinitis represents a non-IgE-mediated group of disorders that share the symptoms of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and/or postnasal discharge but not pruritus that characterizes allergic rhinitis…. skin testing for aeroallergens is negative.” [2012]

Of special interest (especially for MCS folks)
“The classic symptoms of idiopathic nonallergic rhinitis are nasal congestion, postnasal drip, and sneezing triggered by irritant odors, perfumes, wine, and weather changes.” [2012]

“: Idiopathic nonallergic rhinitis (iNAR) has been difficult to define because of the long differential diagnosis of rhinopathy in the absence of allergic rhinitis. iNAR has traditionally been a diagnosis of exclusion with no clear unifying pathophysiology. Increased sensitivity to triggers such has climate changes, cold air, tobacco smoke, strong odors, and perfumes have been thought to be characteristic, but recent studies do not support this hypersensitivity hypothesis. New investigations of the local nasal environment and systemic “functional” syndromes have offered new insights into this condition. iNAR may be a heterogenous disorder that includes (1) anatomic abnormalities requiring nasal endoscopy for diagnosis, (2) incipient, local atopy (entopy), (3) dysfunction of nociceptive nerve sensor and ion channel proteins, and (4) autonomic dysfunction as found in chronic fatigue syndrome and other functional disorders.” [2009]

Bottom Line

If you are having bad hay fever and the “standard popular knowledge” is not doing it for you, you may wish to discuss coagulation as being part of it with your medical professional.