The efficacy of allergen immunotherapy with cat dander in reducing symptoms in clinical practice.

Background: Allergy to cat dander is a common form of allergic disease. Allergen immunotherapy has been demonstrated to be effective in decreasing allergic symptoms.

Objectives: To examine outcomes in allergic asthmatic patients on cat immunotherapy (CIT) compared to allergic asthmatics on traditional immunotherapy (IT) without cat sensitivity.

Intradermal skin test results correlate with atopy.

Intradermal skin testing (IDST) is performed by most allergists, but its value remains controversial. In most previous studies assessing the value of IDST, a positive result was based on a 5- to 6-mm wheal and erythema. While a subject's immediate reaction upon allergen exposure is a common endpoint to determine "allergy," additional known allergic phenomena such as the delayed or late-phase response to allergen exposure suggest that correlation only with current history or acute challenge may result in an incorrect labeling of false-positive results when, in fact, there is a physiologic response to exposure, albeit a reaction not immediately evident.