Diagnostic Tools in Allergic Rhinitis.

Allergic mechanisms account for most cases of chronic rhinitis. This condition is associated with significant impairment of quality of life and high indirect costs. The identification of the allergic triggers of rhinitis has been historically based on the performance of atopy test [skin prick test (SPT) and serum allergen-specific (s)IgE].

Direct intranasal application of the solid phase of ImmunoCAP® increases nasal specific immunoglobulin E detection in local allergic rhinitis patients.

Background: The measurement of nasal specific IgE (NsIgE) in local allergic rhinitis (LAR) patients is challenging and shows variability. The objective of this work was to evaluate a minimally-invasive method of direct detection of NsIgE in patients with LAR to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) using an automated immunoassay.

Methods: Fifty patients participated (LAR, n = 14; allergic rhinitis (AR), n = 20; healthy controls [HC], n = 16).