Pneumologie
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Practice Guideline
[Skin tests for diagnostics of allergic immediate-type reactions. Guideline of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology].
Skin tests in patients with IgE-mediated immediate type allergy are performed with the intention to establish a contact between allergens and skin mast cells. The latter carry specific IgE antibodies on their surface. If mast cells get activated, mediators (mainly histamine) are released which induce a visible skin reaction (wheal and erythema).[nl]Skin tests are indicated, if an immediate type allergic disease is suspected. ⋯ If a skin test is positive, one will have to distinguish reactions, which are clinically relevant, from those, which are not. History and/or challenge tests help to clarify the relevance of a sensitization. Usually, a clinically irrelevant sensitization does not lead to practical consequences.