[Occupational asthma and rhinitis: challenge tests and nasal hyperactivity: present practice and future perspectives]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Immunology
• Occupational Medicine

Context:

• Nasal hypersensitivity presents as an exaggerated response to specific or non-specific stimuli.
• Occupational settings frequently involve exposure to work-related agents triggering nasal hypersensitivity.
• Allergic or inflammatory mediators can also induce hypersensitivity reactions.

Purpose:

• To detail diagnostic and physiopathological techniques for nasal hypersensitivity.
• To enhance understanding of non-specific nasal hypersensitivity through specific testing methods.
• To explore potential therapeutic applications of diagnostic techniques.

Summary:

• The study describes nasal provocation tests, including occupational challenge tests with suspected agents and non-specific tests using histamine and carbachol.
• It details complementary techniques: passive anterior rhinomanometry, intranasal expiratory flow measurements, and nasal lavage for cell and mediator analysis.
• These methods aim to diagnose and understand the pathophysiology of nasal hypersensitivity.

Impact:

• Provides a comprehensive overview of diagnostic tools for nasal hypersensitivity.
• Facilitates a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying non-specific nasal hypersensitivity.
• Highlights future research directions, including dose-response curves and advanced nasal lavage analyses.