Abstract
Intradermal skin tests, radioallergosorbent test (RAST) conjunctival and bronchial provocation tests with crude Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternarea kikuchiana antigens and radioimmunosorbent test (RIST) were performed in patients with asthma. Then, the correlations between each other were studied. 1) Conventional RAST methods using paper discs activated by BrCN, coupled with crude mold antigens, could be used to measure the specific IgE antibodies. The correlations and agreements between RAST and the other methods with mold antigens were as same as those with other antigens including pollens and mite. 2) In place of bronchial provacation test, conjunctival provocation test seemed to be the best, RAST in second and intradermal skin test in third. 3) No significant correlation was obrained between total IgE levels in serum and the threshold of the intradermal skin reaction. Low but significant correlation was obtrained between total IgE levels in serum and RAST.
