[Study of the bronchial provocation test with Alternaria in the diagnosis of childhood asthma: sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility].

The results of the cutaneous tests with fungus, and the repercussion of the fungal allergens in asthma via inhalatory route has been a controversial subject for many years. The lack of characterization, purification and standardization of the allergens make the results of the cutaneous tests highly variable. The diagnostic value of the bronchial provocation test (BPT) in asthma, associated with suspicious fungal hypersensitivity, correctly performed with adequate controls and concentrations of non-irritant fungal allergens has been emphasized by various authors. The motive of the present study to demonstrate, by means of the BPT with Alternaria, if the lung is the target organ of hypersensitivity demonstrated by cutaneous tests and RAST, comparing the obtained results by the Score of FOUCARD (fig. 1), with the result of the inhalatory test. The specificity and reproductibility of the BPT was likewise verified according to the employed allergen and its non-unspecific irritant concentrations to the airway. Twenty patients of both sexes, with ages ranging between 7 and 14 years, distributed in two groups, were studied and diagnosed as having bronchial asthma. Group I: Fourteen patients diagnosed with asthma, for hypersensitivity to Alternaria with Score of FOUCARD equal or greater than 5 (Table I). Group II: Control group composed of 6 patients with negative allergological findinds to Alternaria with bronchial hyperreactivity demonstrated in for cases by BPT positive against Dermatophagoides and in two cases with positive methacholine test (PC20 less than 8 mg./ml.). The inhalation of the allergen was performed following the described method by Cockcroft.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)