Nasal allergen provocation test with multiple aeroallergens detects polysensitization in local allergic rhinitis

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Diagnostic Medicine

Background:

• Nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) may encompass local allergic rhinitis (LAR) characterized by local IgE production.
• LAR diagnosis involves specific IgE and positive nasal allergen provocation tests (NAPT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a multi-allergen NAPT protocol (NAPT-M) for detecting aeroallergen polysensitization in LAR patients.
• To assess NAPT-M's efficiency compared to single-allergen NAPTs.

Main Methods:

• NAPT-M performed on 25 LAR and 25 NAR patients using perennial or seasonal allergen panels.
• Evaluated subjective symptoms and objective acoustic rhinometry.
• Measured nasal tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein levels post-challenge.

Main Results:

• NAPT-M demonstrated 100% concordance with single-allergen NAPT gold standard.
• No false-positive or false-negative results were observed.
• NAPT-M reduced diagnostic visits by 75% in NAR and 55% in LAR groups.

Conclusions:

• Clinically significant aeroallergen polysensitization is confirmed in LAR patients.
• NAPT-M is a specific, sensitive, reproducible, and time-efficient in vivo diagnostic tool for LAR screening.