Do Skin Prick Tests Predict Nasal Provocation Test Outcomes in Allergic Rhinitis Patients?

Area of Science:

• Allergology
• Immunology
• Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

• Skin prick tests (SPTs) have limitations in reflecting actual allergen-induced nasal symptoms in allergic rhinitis (AR).
• Nasal provocation tests (NPTs) offer definitive AR assessment but are less accessible in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between SPT and NPT outcomes.
• To assess the predictive reliability of SPT for NPT results in diagnosing perennial AR.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 106 patients with suspected perennial AR undergoing simultaneous SPT and NPT.
• SPT assessed by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) wheal diameter; NPT by intranasal Dp challenge and Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS).
• Correlation and linear regression analyses performed to determine the relationship between SPT and NPT outcomes.

Main Results:

• A significant, moderately positive correlation (ρ = 0.640) was found between SPT Dp wheal diameter and 15-min TNSS changes post-NPT.
• Stronger correlations observed in patients positive for both tests (ρ = 0.510) and monosensitized patients (ρ = 0.644).
• Linear regression confirmed a significant linear relationship (R² = 0.423) between SPT wheal size and NPT-induced TNSS changes.

Conclusions:

• Significant correlations and linear associations support SPT's predictive capability for NPT responses.
• SPT can serve as a reliable predictor for NPT outcomes in AR diagnosis.