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Nasal Provocation Tests

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All Around the Nose

Abstract

Nasal provocation test (NPT) with allergens is a safe and simple technique recommended in different diagnostic and research settings. NPT is mostly used for diagnostic purposes in cases where patient’s symptoms do not agree with the results of skin or blood testing. Also, it has an important role in clinical trials. It is a test that can be used in routine clinical practice although must be conducted by properly trained personnel. Inhaled allergens have been epidemiologically determined as a significant factor leading to allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Imitating the natural process, NPT allows gaining insights into how allergic respiratory inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) work. In the research field, NPT has been widely used in the study of mechanisms of inflammation and allergic response in subjects with allergic rhinitis (AR) and local allergic rhinitis (LAR), in the study of pathophysiological mechanisms of response allergens, and to evaluate the therapeutic effect of drugs or immunotherapy in controlled clinical trials. Daily clinical application of NPT as a method to recreate the nasal allergic reactions and to study the AR characteristics regarding its pathophysiology, immunology, and pharmacology became popular. As a method to determine the clinical role of allergens in patients with multiple sensitizations, NPT is suggested to validate AR diagnosis. In addition, NPT is recommended in case of inconsistencies or hardships between a patient’s medical history and the skin and/or blood serum test results. This chapter develops the most relevant aspects concerning NPT.

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Zorlu, D., Bayar Muluk, N., Campo, P. (2020). Nasal Provocation Tests. In: Cingi, C., Bayar Muluk, N. (eds) All Around the Nose. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21217-9_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21217-9_16

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