DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF THE NASAL PROVOCATION TEST WITH DERMATOPHAGOIDES-PTERONYSSINUS IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

We aimed to determine whether the nasal provocation test (NPT) with al lergen could be used as a diagnostic test in asthmatic children with o r without allergic rhinitis, and whether it had any effects on pulmona ry function tests and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) values. Ther efore, 25 asthmatic outpatients sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronys sinus (Dp), aged 6-17 years, 12 having allergic rhinitis, and 10 nonat opic children as a control group were challenged intranasally with sol ution containing Dp extract by administration of a total dose of 800-1 000 AU to both nasal cavities. Before the test and 10 min and 20 min a fter the administration of the allergen intranasally, the nasal expira tory peak flow (NEPF), pulmonary function tests, and SaO(2) were measu red. In the NPT, a decrease of 20% or more in NEPF and occurrence of n asal symptoms were considered to be positive. NPT was positive in all the asthmatic patients with or without allergic rhinitis, while all th e children in the control group had a negative test. Compared to value s prior to the test, values of FEV(1) (forced expiratory volume in 1 s ) and SaO(2) showed no statistically significant decrease, and no clin ically significant asthmatic reaction was observed in any of the group s. Our study suggests that in asthmatic children with or without aller gic rhinitis, the NPT with allergen is a simple, safe, and useful diag nostic test.