Allergy skin test responses during experimental infection with respiratory syncytial virus.
BACKGROUND
Allergy skin testing is one of the most frequently performed physician office procedures. Many factors can affect the results of those tests, including the well-defined suppressive effect of systemic antihistamines. False-positive allergen skin test results are known to occur; however, contributing factors are not well understood.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a viral upper respiratory tract infection affects allergy skin test responsiveness.


METHODS
We performed skin tests with histamine and a panel of geographically relevant inhalant allergens on 16 adults before and 3, 6, and 21 days after experimental exposure to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a virus that causes signs and symptoms of a cold.


RESULTS
The RSV exposure, with and without documented infection, caused increased wheal and flare areas to histamine and allergen and de novo positive allergen test responses in individuals with no measurable responses at baseline. These were noted as late as 21 days after RSV exposure and may be consistent with mediation by up-regulated neurogenic inflammation during RSV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may have implications for explaining the cause of such well-known complications of RSV infection as otitis media, bronchiolitis, and asthmatic exacerbation.
Skoner
David P
DP
Department of Pediatrics, Allegheny Singer Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA.
Gentile
Deborah A
DA
Angelini
Betty
B
Doyle
William J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014581:Urticaria
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine