title: Diagnostic performance of the atopy patch test with inhalant allergens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the atopy patch test (APT) compared with skin prick testing (SPT) and in vitro IgE measurement in a large group of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) with or without respiratory symptoms (RS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 521 patients (292 males, 229 females; age, 0.5-18 years; median age, 6 years) with AD and RS with different clinical presentations: current AD, 47 patients (Group A); current AD and RS, 72 patients (Group B), past AD and RS, 69 patients (Group C); and RS only, 280 patients (Group D). Fifty-three healthy individuals served as controls. All participants underwent the APT, SPT, and CAP/RAST with the most common inhalant allergens. The presence of a control group allowed calculation of specificity and positive and negative predictive values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference was found for a positive APT versus both SPT and CAP/RAST (P < .0001) but not for SPT versus CAP/RAST. The differences for APT were significant in all group comparisons except group B vs C and group C vs D. In the control group, the APT was positive in 2% of cases (specificity of 96.2%), SPT was positive in 6% of cases (specificity of 88.4%), and CAP/RAST was positive in 4% of cases (specificity of 92.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In young patients sensitized to inhalant allergens with AD in addition to RS, the APT has a superior diagnostic performance to SPT and in vitro IgE measurement.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuiano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diddi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delvecchio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E