[Proposal for skin prick test protocol]. / Propozycja protokolu wykonywania punktowych testów skórnych.

Skin prick tests remain to be the method predominantly used for diagnosis of allergic diseases. Regarding its low cost, rapidity of performance, safety and good correlation with the presence of clinical symptoms, skin prick tests are often considered sufficient for recognizing allergy and hence determine further therapeutic management. Since a wide variety of factors may influence the sensitivity and specificity of this method (quality of allergenic extracts, prick technique, appropriate scheme of discontinuing drugs, diet), there has been strong emphasis that skin prick tests be performed by well-trained medical personnel, using standardized techniques. The protocol that we propose, practically systematizes current principles regarding methodology of skin prick tests and thus simplifies correct patient qualification, test performance and interpretation of the results. Both the modified prick technique introduced by Pepys and Bernstein and the "Scandinavian" scoring and interpretation system are the current reference methods recommended by the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology.

[Range of the normal values for induced sputum cells in Silesian population]. / Zakres wartosci prawidlowych dla komórek wystepujacych w indukowanej plwocinie w populacji slaskiej.

BACKGROUND: The induced sputum is used in the diagnosis of chronic airways diseases. Up to now there has not been performed studies in Poland describing the distribution of cells in sputum. The aim of the study was to work out the range of normal values for cells in sputum, based on a group of healthy Polish people living in Silesia region. METHODS: One hundred healthy volunteers in age 17-79 without respiratory symptoms were examined. They had normal spirometry, no airways hyperresponsiveness to metacholine and no history of allergic diseases. The sputum was obtained from 85 people. Viability, total and differential cell counts was performed. RESULTS: The range of the normal values for induced sputum cells was following [mean (+/- SD)]: macrophages 49.3% (11.5-77.1%), neutrophils 48.5% (9.6-87.2%), eosinophils 0.8% (<4.8), lymphocytes 1.4% (<4.2%). Smoking and age of subjects influenced the number and percentage of cells in sputum. CONCLUSIONS: Finding of high percentage of eosinophils (>4.8%) in sputum may be helpful in the diagnosis of asthma. Counting of neutrophils and other cells is of limited practical value. E.S.; G.G.; A.S.; A.B.; W.P. Range of the normal value for induced sputum cells in people living in Silesian region.

[Provocation tests in the diagnosis of acetylsalicylic acid intolerance]. / Próby prowokacyjne w diagnostyce nadwrazliwosci na kwas acetylosalicylowy.

Aspirin is among drugs most commonly used all over the world, therefore considerable prevalence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) intolerance has lately been reported. There is no in vitro test for the identification of ASA intolerance and even clear-cut clinical symptoms are not sufficient for diagnosis of ASA intolerance. Provocation tests therefore, remain to be the only relevant method used for the diagnosis of both AIAR (aspirin-intolerant asthma and rhinitis) and ASA intolerance of organs other than respiratory tract. There are 5 types of provocation tests, depending on the route of ASA administration: oral, bronchial (inhaled), nasal and seldom used intravenous and intrabronchial challenges. The protocols used in different centers, vary not only in the ways of ASA administration, but also in doses used, duration of observation period and in criteria for evaluation of the results. We present here current principles regarding indications and contraindications for detailed challenge procedures and methodology of different ASA provocation tests. We summarized both advantages and the defects of all enumerated challenge procedures, which may be helpful for correct patient qualification, test performance and interpretation of the results.