http://www.revistaalergia.mx 38 Rev Alerg Mex. 2019;66(1):38-43 é e r g ia M Revista Al xi c o Colegio Mexicano de Inmunología Clínica A.C. Artículo original Sensitivity and specificity of the modified epicutaneous patch test in the diagnosis of respiratory allergy to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Sensibilidad y especificidad de la prueba epicutánea modificada en el diagnóstico de alergia respiratoria a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Alexis Rosales, 1 Aída Inés López-García, 1 Daniela Rivero-Yeverino, 1 Oswaldo Arana-Muñoz, 1 José Sergio Papaqui-Tapia, 1 Chrystopherson Gengyny Caballero-López, 1 Lorena Ortega-López, 1 Armando Cruz-Hernández, 1 Israel Pablo Ruiz-Márquez, 1 Francisco Valle-Rodríguez 1 Abstract Background: The skin prick test is recognized as the gold standard for the specific diagnosis of allergy. Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the epicutaneous patch test that has been modified for the diagnosis of respiratory allergy to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Methods: An observational, interpretative, prolective, and transversal study. The included patients were between 6 and 49 years old, with symptoms of a respiratory allergy, and a skin test was performed on them by using the European standardized prick test and a modified epicutaneous patch test with the variable of the scarification that occurred before the antigen was applied, and its homogenization with a wooden applicator, which occurred after the antigen was applied. The levels of sensitivity, specificity, and prevalence influence and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: 104 patients were included, of which 72 (69.2%) were women. The age category of the patients was 24 ± 11.3 years of age. 78.9% of the patients were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, 1.9% were diagnosed with asthma, and 19.2% were diagnosed with both rhinitis and asthma. The prevalence of the respiratory allergy to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was of 62.5%; 94.23% with a correct diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the test was of 93.85% and 94.87%; the positive and negative predictive values were of 96.83% and 90.24%, and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were of 18.30 and 0.06. Conclusions: The modified epicutaneous patch test was highly sensitive and specific; it decreased the risk of allergen carryover and it lowered the cost of the material that was used. Keywords: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Skin prick test; Respiratory allergy diagnosis Este artículo debe citarse como: Rosales A, López-García AI, Rivero-Yeverino D, Arana-Muñoz O, Papaqui-Tapia JS, Caballero-López CG, Ortega-López L, Cruz-Hernández A, Ruiz-Márquez IP, Valle-Rodríguez F. Sensibilidad y especificidad de la prueba epicutánea modificada en el diagnóstico de alergia respiratoria a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Rev Alerg Mex. 2019;66(1):38-43