The role of inhalation challenge

The use of inhalation bronchial challenge with various antigens for the diagnosis of allergic asthma is reported by many investigators to be more reliable than direct skin testing in defining clinically significant sensitivity. Many reports have shown a poor correlation between skin testing and bronchial challenge. Other investigators have reported some association between positive provocation tests and the degree of skin sensitivity. The authors evaluate the relationship between direct skin tests, leukocyte histamine release, and quantitative bronchial challenge in ragweed allergic asthmatic patients, and the organ specificity of inhalation challenge. Inhalation challenges were administered to non asthmatic ragweed hayfever patients, non ragweed sensitive asthmatic patients, normal controls, as well as ragweed allergic asthmatic patients.