Correlation of Skin Test Results and Specific Immunoglobulin E Blood Levels with Nasal Provocation Testing for House-Dust Mite Allergies

Background Allergen-specific immunotherapy for house-dust mite (HDM) allergies is associated with lower success rates when compared with similar treatments for other inhalant allergens, such as grass or birch. One reason might be the greater difficulty in diagnosing patients with assumed HDM allergies because symptoms occur perennially and may differ from those of a conventional allergic rhinitis. Objective The aim of the study was to compare the different methods of diagnosis in patients with assumed HDM allergy. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of nasal provocation tests (NPT) from patients (n = 161) evaluated for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (n = 127) and Dermatophagoides …