Evaluation of acoustic rhinometry in a nasal provocation test with allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
The nasal provocation test is not widely available due to lack of standardized methods and related research. We evaluated the clinical utility of the nasal provocation test using acoustic rhinometry.


METHODS
All patients underwent skin tests and were graded according to severity of reaction.


METHODS
We performed nasal provocation tests using acoustic rhinometry in patients with allergic rhinitis from January 2003 to December 2006. A total of 836 patients participated in our study. The mean age was 36 years and the male:female ratio was 5:4.


RESULTS
The mean nasal volume was 10.86 cm(3) and the mean minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) was 0.66 cm(3) before the study. Relationship between the severity of the reaction and change in mean nasal volume and MCA was statistically significant. The relationship between the severity of the reaction against the antigen and the severity of clinical symptoms was also statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The nasal provocation test can be helpful in evaluating the severity of allergic rhinitis. However, we must be careful in interpreting the results alone.
Kim
Young Hyo
YH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Yang
Tae Yong
TY
Lee
Dong Youl
DY
Ko
Kook Jin
KJ
Shin
Seung Ho
SH
Jang
Tae Young
TY
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic