The diagnosis of perennial rhinitis due to house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) demonstrated by nasal provocation tests.

The paper describes a simple clinical method of performing allergic nasal challenges. It was found to give no complications in over 1,000 challenges with D. pteronyssinus solution. It requires no special apparatus. Reasons for not measuring nasal airways resistance are given. In 1,167 challenges, positive nasal challenges agreed with positive skin prick tests 943 times (81%). Twenty-five positive nasal tests had negative skin tests (2%). One hundred and ninety-nine negative nasal tests had positive skin tests (17%). In 60 patients who had positive RAST (Fadel-Nalebuff modification), 14 (23%) nasal challenges were negative. Five positive nasal challenges had negative RASTS (8%). This is the largest series of mite nasal challenges correlated to skin and RAST tests that has been published.