[Vasomotor rhinitis and vasomotor tests (author's transl)].

The classification of types of vasomotor rhinitis remains controversial. Too frequently, the presence of salvoes of sneezing leads to a diagnosis of allergy. The authors point out the only relatively accuracy of skin tests and show that marked local histamine liberation may occur in the absence of allergy. They have perfected a battery of vasomotor tests using nicotinic acid, histamine, 48/80 and acetylcholine. On this basis, they propose a pragmatic clinical classification of types of vasomotor rhinitis. Underlying tendency to tetany is the most common aetiology, going hand in hand with increased histamine sensitivity.