Reliability of skin prick tests during terfenadine treatment in adults with pollen rhinitis. A clinical study.

Abstract

The variation in skin prick test (SPT) results was evaluated clinically during terfenadine treatment in 39 adult patients with pollen rhinitis. A change in the perceived state of the patient as regards sensitization to a specific pollen allergen or atopic constitution was judged to be clinically important. A randomized, double-blind, crossover design was used, comprising 2 weeks on terfenadine 120 mg once a day and 2 weeks on placebo. SPT for two pollen allergens and histamine (10 mg/ml) were evaluated at the start of the study and at the end of each period. When SPT was used as a discovery test and liberal definitions were applied, predictive values for a positive test were 100%. 1-Sensitivity ranged between 10 and 54% with substantially lower values when a histamine wheal reaction was noted. The inhibitory effect of terfenadine was detectable 2 weeks after withdrawal as a reduction in the median of the mean diameter for the histamine-induced wheal response of 1 mm (0-1.5). The data implied that a positive SPT is reliable when liberal definitions are adopted for sensitization and atopy; a negative SPT is presumably reliable when the measurement artifact is considered and the wheal reaction to histamine is detectable.

• Authors: M Christensen, L Moelby, F Svendsen
• Journal: Allergy (Allergy) Vol. 49 Issue 9 Pg. 702-6 (Oct 1994) ISSN: 0105-4538 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 7695058 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Terfenadine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Allergens (adverse effects, immunology)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Hypersensitivity (immunology)
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity, Immediate (chemically induced, immunology)
• Middle Aged
• Pollen
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Reproducibility of Results
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial (diagnosis, drug therapy, immunology)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Skin Tests
• Terfenadine (therapeutic use)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome