AUTHOR=Testera-Montes Almudena , Jurado Raquel , Salas Maria , Eguiluz-Gracia Ibon , Mayorga Cristobalina TITLE=Diagnostic Tools in Allergic Rhinitis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Allergy VOLUME=2 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/allergy/articles/10.3389/falgy.2021.721851 DOI=10.3389/falgy.2021.721851 ISSN=2673-6101 ABSTRACT=
Allergic mechanisms account for most cases of chronic rhinitis. This condition is associated with significant impairment of quality of life and high indirect costs. The identification of the allergic triggers of rhinitis has been historically based on the performance of atopy test [skin prick test (SPT) and serum allergen-specific (s)IgE]. Nevertheless, these tests only denote sensitization, and atopy and allergy represent two different phenomena. It is now clear that allergic phenotypes of rhinitis can exist in both atopic (allergic rhinitis, AR) and non-atopic (local allergic rhinitis, LAR) individuals. Moreover, both allergic phenotypes can coexist in the same rhinitis patient (dual allergic rhinitis, DAR). Therefore, a diagnostic approach merely based on atopy tests is associated with a significant rate of misdiagnosis. The confirmation of the allergic etiology of rhinitis requires the performance of