title: The effectiveness of nasal provocation tests for the diagnosis of atopic bronchial asthma.
abstract: Because of a certain degree of risk involved in bronchial challenge tests an attempt has been made to evaluate the efficacy of nasal provocation tests for the diagnosis of sensitivity to inhalant allergens in patients with bronchial asthma. The present study involved thirty patients with asthma and thirty healthy controls. Three criteria were employed to assess nasal sensitivity to an allergen. These were clinical observations, thermographic recording of the temperature of the nose, and blockage index assessment. It was observed that positive nasal reactions were seen mostly in patients who had a history of sensitivity to the tested allergen and in the group with high levels of the allergen-specific IgE. Allergic rhinitis, which some patients had in addition to asthma, did not seem to affect the results of the nasal provocation tests. The nasal challenge test is thought to be a valuable method for the diagnosis of sensitivity to inhalant allergens in patients with atopic bronchial asthma. In our opinion recording of nasal temperature by means of thermography during nasal challenge is useful for evaluating the results of the test.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications; D013817:Thermography
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E