Objective prick test evaluation: non-invasive techniques.
Prick test reactions are evaluated and quantified, comparing visual assessment with two non-invasive techniques: remittance spectroscopy and pulsed ultrasound for erythema and skin thickness measurements. Different information is provided by the two methods. Remittance spectroscopy discriminates well between negative and positive reactions (+ or ++), while failing to differentiate stronger reactions, where edema is a prominent feature. The latter reactions are better evaluated by skin thickness measurements, which, on the contrary, are less sensitive in revealing small skin thickness increases in weak reactions.
Department of Dermatology, University of Pavia IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Italy.
E
E
Berardesca
P
P
Gabba
A
A
Nume
G
G
Rabbiosi
H I
HI
Maibach
D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004890:Erythema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012882:Skin Tests; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014463:Ultrasonography