Abstract
ABSTRACT
The aim of these studies was to compare two methods of the specific Bronchial Provocation Test (sBPT) using house dust mite allergen in powder form and in solution. The studies were carried out on 60 asthma patients found to be sensitive to house dust mite by the case history and positive skin tests with D. pteronyssinus or/and D. farinae. The lung function tests of most of the patients were within the normal range. All the patients had a positive BPT with histamine.The specific BPT with powder allergen was performed on 32 patients and with solution on 28 patients. The sBPT with powder was performed by the Melillo method and with solution by the method of Ryan et al.
A positive bronchial response to allergen was observed in 75% of the patients in each group.
A dual reaction was observed in 13 patients in the powder group and in 14 patients in the solution group. The isolated late reaction occurred in only 2 patients in the powder group. Our findings showed a difference in the cumulative dose of allergen required to produce a positive reaction between the two groups.The dose of solution was signifficantly less than the dose of powder allergen. The differences between the two groups during the late reaction were not statistically significant. Both methods are very useful in clinical practice for the etiological diagnosis of allergic asthma, but the Melillo method appears to be simpler and less expensive.
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