[Indications for the aspirin provocation test in the asthmatic].

Oral provocation tests using aspirin (n = 55), tartrazine (n = 37) and benzoate (n = 28) were performed in 55 asthmatic patients. A positive aspirin provocation test was observed in 15 patients (27%). These patients often had a past history of aspirin intolerance, 53% of them also had nasal polyposis and 5 out of 12 had associated tartrazine intolerance, while 2 out of 8 had associated benzoate intolerance. The authors consider that these features may help the clinician to detect the asthmatic patient at high risk of aspirin intolerance in whom a provocation test should be performed.