Comparison of nasal smear eosinophilia with skin prick test positivity in patients with allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of nasal smear eosinophilia with skin prick test for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and to determine the degree of correlation between the tests.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients (16 males, 25 females; mean age 35.17; range 14 to 56 years) with a clinical history suggestive of nasal allergy and fifteen controls (7 males, 8 females; mean age 27.6; range 16 to 40 years) without any history of allergy were enrolled in this study. Skin sensitivity tests were applied in both groups. Nasal smear was examined by light microscopy.

RESULTS: A positive skin test reaction was demonstrated in 73.2% of the study group and in 20% of the controls, whereas 73.2% of the patients and 13.3% of the controls demonstrated significant nasal smear eosinophilia. There was 25.5% correlation between the skin prick test and nasal smear eosinophilia, although this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Both the skin prick test and nasal smear eosinophilia showed correlation with clinical history, but there was no statistically significant correlation between the two tests.