title: Provocation tests as measure of efficacy and dosage.
abstract: Provocation and challenge tests have been used to understand the pathobiology of asthma, to facilitate diagnosis and to assess therapeutic efficacy and dosage. Current challenge tests expose the patient to 'natural conditions', for example, in an allergen chamber. For determining drug efficacy in asthma, allergen challenge has a moderate positive predictive value and an excellent negative predictive value. The best challenge tests are standardized, and the best bronchial challenge tests use a large allergen particle size. Allergen provocation tests are safe when performed by experienced investigators.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Division, Department of Chest Diseases, Strasbourg University Hospital, University of Strasbourg, France. frederic.deblay@chru-strasbourg.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Blay
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents