Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42566568›Full record

ArticleMedicine2026

Study on the correlation between serum lead levels and allergic rhinitis in adults and IgE levels.

Zhi-Fei Zhang, Wei-Bin Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Zhi-Fei ZhangDepartment of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, The 969th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of P.L.A, Hohhot 010010, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, P.R. China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

While lead exposure is hypothesized to promote Th2-type allergic responses, large-scale epidemiological data on its link to adult allergic rhinitis (AR) are scarce. This study aimed to explore the association between serum lead levels and AR risk and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in the general adult population of the United States. Using data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional study included 2876 participants aged ≥ 20 years, 682 AR patients and 2194 controls. AR was defined as having a positive serum-specific IgE (≥0.35 kU/L) and reporting pollen-related or non-cold-related nasal symptoms in the past 12 months. Serum lead levels was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the natural logarithm of serum lead levels (Ln Pb) was adopted. Multivariable logistic regression, linear regression, and Cox regression models were employed to assess the associations after stepwise adjustment for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and laboratory indicators, along with subgroup analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) tests for dose-response relationships. Blood lead levels were significantly negatively associated with the risk of AR. Quartile analysis indicated that the highest exposure group (Q4) had a 53% lower risk of AR compared to the lowest group (Q1) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.467, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.269 to 0.811, P for trend = .014). RCS analysis suggested a linear trend in this association (P-non-linear = .954). Additionally, Ln Pb was positively associated with serum total IgE levels (β = 1.179, 95% CI: 1.005 to 1.383, P = .045), indicating that lead exposure may promote Th2-type immune responses. Higher blood lead levels were also significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.535, 95% CI: 1.509 to 4.261, P < .001). Subgroup analyses showed that the negative association between lead and AR was consistent across most populations, but was most pronounced in nondrinkers (HR = 0.53, P = .003), with borderline interaction effects related to smoking status (P for interaction = 0.039). The dissociation between reduced AR risk and elevated IgE levels suggests a complex immunomodulatory effect of lead. Furthermore, lead exposure was confirmed as a significant risk factor for all-cause mortality, underscoring its broader systemic toxicity.

Indexed as

Immunoglobulin ELeadRhinitis, AllergicAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNutrition SurveysRisk FactorsUnited StatesYoung AdultImmunoglobulin ELeadallergic rhinitiscross-sectional studyheavy metal exposureIgEserum lead

Identifiers

PMID42566568
PMCPMC13456717

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.