Background:
Skin testing is a mainstay in allergology, and its importance is increasing in several fields. The
ability to choose the most suitable technique according to the clinical setting is an advantage for the medical team.
Objectives:
To describe in detail an alternative technique of the coetaneous allergy test (skin scrape test) conceived as a
variation of the former skin scratch test; to evaluate its value as a tool for diagnosis of immune sensitization; and to compare
its accuracy with the skin prick test.
Methods:
The skin scrape test and skin prick test were performed side by side with the same allergen extracts in 162 human
subjects classified in two groups according to the known presence or absence of serum specific-IgE to these allergens.
Results:
The sensitivity of the skin scrape test to detect immediate reactions was 85.0%. The sensitivity of the skin prick
test was 86.5%. The sensitivity of both techniques analyzed together as a unique procedure was 94.2%. The specificity of
the skin scrape test was 90.1%.The specificity of the skin prick test was 72.9%.The specificity of both tests analyzed together
as a unique procedure was 70.5%.
Conclusions:
The skin scrape test is an alternative and complementary technique for allergic skin testing, and it is able to
detect IgE-specific immune sensitization without the disadvantages of the skin scratch test. The skin scrape test has similar
outcomes to the skin prick test.
The leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) test was designed to evaluate the presence of cellular immunoreactivity against specific antigens and is highly sensitive to analytical interference. To compare the performance of the LAI test among plasmas obtained with different anticoagulants, 36 blood samples of allergic subjects were divided into three tubes with heparin, sodium citrate, and EDTA. The adherence was assessed with the hemocytometer technique. The mean adherence of each group was compared as well as the number of tests with inappropriate adherence (<25%). Of the 36 tests, there were 4, 9, and 21 with inappropriate adherence in the groups of heparin, citrate, and EDTA, respectively. Of these last, 5 samples also did not demonstrate proper adherence with sodium citrate and 1 sample did not show proper adherence with any anticoagulant. The anticoagulant in the collection tube can elicit a specific immune response, becoming an interferent for the LAI test. In this case, there is the possibility of redoing the test using another anticoagulant. Performed with different anticoagulants, the LAI test may be used as a preanalytical tool for choosing the less immunoreactive anticoagulant for more complex immunoassays.
Background: Asymptomatic sensitization is a frequent condition that must be considered before the indication of allergic-specific immunotherapy.Objective:
Citation: Olivier CE, dos Santos Lima RP, Argentão DGP, da Silva MD, dos Santos RAPG, et al. (2013)
AbstractBackground: The treatment of polysensitized allergic patients continues to represent a challenge and is a matter for debate amongst allergists who preferentially use allergen-specific immunotherapy.Objective: To study the effect of group-specific sublingual/swallow immunotherapy on quality of life of polysensitized human subjects with allergic rhinitis diagnosed using a comprehensive panel of cutaneous tests.Methods: 60 polysensitized subjects diagnosed with allergic rhinitis who submitted to group-specific sublingual/ swallow immunotherapy treatment corresponding to their cutaneous sensitizations, and who completed 6 months of treatment without the use of any complementary medication were evaluated with a validated quality of life questionnaire.Results: There were significant improvements in all quality of life categories evaluated, which included: sleep, systemic symptoms, practical problems, nasal symptoms, eye symptoms, activities and emotions.
Conclusions:The administration of a group-specific multi-allergen sublingual/swallow immunotherapy as indicated by a comprehensive panel of sensitizing agents in cutaneous tests performed by a specialized team, significantly improved the quality of life of human polysensitized subjects with allergic rhinitis without the use of any additional medication.
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