A Comparative Study of Skin Prick Test versus Serum-Specific IgE Measurement in Indian Patients with Bronchial Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic diseases are common in India. The majority of the patients suffer from bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis or both. The diagnosis of these conditions is based on clinical history and examination, however establishment of allergy requires either skin prick testing (SPT) or measurement of serum-specific IgE (SSIgE) levels to relevant allergens. The diagnostic modalities measuring in vitro SSIgE levels include radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and ImmunoCAP methods. [1][2][3][4] Results from western literature have shown SPT to be more sensitive than SSIgE. 2-4 Hence, SPT is more commonly used in allergy testing, while in vitro tests are considered to be complementary. 3 Skin prick testing has been considered to be the 'gold standard' in the assessment of inhalant allergen sensitivity. Results are interpreted in the context of clinical history and epidemiological profile. Allergy is diagnosed