Étude comparative des tests de provocation nasale et bronchique

Applicability of a Simple Nasal Provocation Test in Etiologic Diagnosis of Bronchial Asthma

“…In order to minimize difficulties of interpre tation, the test dose of allergens was kept constant and as low as possible (a single spray) [11], and control with glycerol solu tion was performed in order to rule out the occurrence of nonspecific reactions to the preservative [7], The choice of a signs and symptoms score as a criterion for the as sessment of response, although less reli able and quantitative than rhino-rheo-manometrv, was in keeping with the need of establishing a method as inexpensive and easy to perform as possible [ 12], Previous investigations concerning the applicability of NPT in asthma, adopting different techniques for provocation and for evaluating the response, had produced conflicting results. McAllen et al [10], in adult patients with perennial asthma and sensitization to Dermatophagoides, found positive reactions to NPT in a percentage of patients equal to that one positive to bronchial challenge (86%); Vidarl et al [15] found a perfect agreement between nasal and bronchial response to challenge in subjects with asthma and rhinitis, where as the agreement was nil in asthma alone; the same group [8] reported that NPT per formed with Dermatophagoides was al ways negative in adult allergic patients with positive bronchial test but without rhinitis, whereas it was positive in 86% of children aged 5-7 years; Boieyet al [3], in vestigating a similar sample of asthmatic children, found a 100% agreement be tween NPT and bronchial challenge tests.…”