Background: Nasal airflow, as measured by rhinomanometry, is frequently impaired in allergic rhinitis (AR). The decongestion test evaluates whether the application of an intranasal vasoconstrictor drug increases nasal airflow.
Objective: The aim of this study was to define the characteristics of decongestion test responders.
Methods: 123 subjects (112 males and 11 females, mean age 22.9+/-5.7 years) with AR were studied. Nasal eosinophils, rhinomanometry, and decongestion test were assessed in all subjects.
Results: The optimal cut-off for % variation of nasal airflow and nasal eosinophils >5 was = 34.4, with sensibility = 82.7% (95%CI 73.7-89.6) and specificity = 80% (95%CI 59.3-93.1).
Conclusions: The clinical relevance of this study is that non-responders may have a likely moderate-severe allergic inflammation that should be adequately evaluated and treated.