Allergen-specific nasal provocation testing: Review by the rhinoconjunctivitis committee of the Spanish society of allergy and clinical immunology

Specific nasal provocation testing (npt) consists of eliciting a response from the nasal mucosa by controlled exposure to allergens. it is indicated in the diagnostic confirmation of allergic rhinitis and when discrepancies arise or difficulties exist in the assessment of a patient's medical history and the results of skin and/or serological tests. the technique is also applied to evaluate sensitivity to the allergen,the efficacy and safety profile of treatment,and in research on the pathophysiological mechanisms of nasal response to allergens. npt also provides information on the etiology of occupational respiratory diseases of allergic origin. although there have been many studies and publications on the use and standardization of bronchial provocation tests with allergen,few analyze specific npt. in this review,the rhinoconjunctivitis committee of the spanish society of allergy and clinical immunology discuss the methodology,monitoring,and assessment of allergen-specific npt in order to provide a practical and up-to-date review of the technique. © 2011 esmon publicidad.