title: [Choosing the best panel of aeroallergen prick-tests for patients in Lebanon with rhinitis and asthma: A retrospective study of 2350 patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of skin prick-test reactivity to different aeroallergens in patients with rhinitis and asthma in Lebanon and its geographic variation within the country. It was also to suggest a minimal panel of allergens that should be used to detect sensitized patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who underwent skin prick-testing, because of rhinitis and/or symptoms suggesting asthma, between 2004 to 2011 in the hôtel-Dieu de France university hospital of Beirut, were studied. The total number of patients was 2350 and all were tested with the same panel of 24 aeroallergens. A further series of 208 patients were added because Cupressaceae antigens were not included in the initial series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of sensitization to any allergen was 75.6%. A battery of eleven allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia, Parietaria, grass, Salicaceae, oak, Oleaceae, dog, cat, and cockroaches) was found to identify sensitized patients with a sensitivity of 96% and a negative predictive value of 90%. Cupressaceae should be added to this battery in view of the results of the additional series. The Bekaa region had a unique profile of sensitization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twelve allergens are able to detect almost all sensitized patients suffering from respiratory symptoms in Lebanon.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban. Electronic address: tbazarbachi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bazarbachi
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, unité d'immunologie et d'allergologie, Hôtel-Dieu de France, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Irani
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de recherche clinique et épidémiologique, faculté de pharmacie et de santé publique, université libanaise, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khayat
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riachy
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dabar
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu de France, rue Alfred Naccache, Beyrouth, Liban; Faculté de médecine, université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Aeroallergen; Batterie; Lebanon; Liban; Panel; Pneumallergène; Prick-test; Sensibilisation; Sensitization; Skin prick-test