Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of skin prick tests (SPT) and the relationship of SPT results with age, gender and pulmonary function tests (PFT) in patients followed up with asthma in the chest diseases department of our hospital.

Materials and Methods: Age, gender, SPT and PFT of 209 patients with asthma followed up in our department during 2003-2005 were collected from the records retrospectively.

Results: Among these patients, 165 (78.9%) were female. Mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 0.9. SPT were positive in 93 (44.5%) cases. The most frequent sensitizing allergen was detected to be house dust mite with the frequency of 58.1% of the cases (n= 54). Among the other allergens, pollens were positive in 49.5% of the patients (n= 46), moulds mixture in 18.3% (n= 17), dog dander in 11.8% (n= 11), cat dander in 8.6% (n= 8) and cockroach in 6.6% (n= 6). Mean age of the cases with positive SPT was significantly lower than that of the negative ones (p< 0.002). There was no significant gender difference between the groups (p= 0.064). Although FEV₁/FVC ratios were not different between SPT positive or negative groups (p= 0.38), FEV₁ values in mL (p= 0.001) as well as the reversibility values in mL and as percentages (p= 0.001 and p= 0.007, respectively) were significantly higher in the SPT positive group.

Conclusion: In conclusion, SPT were positive in 44.5% of the patients with asthma in Tokat region. The most frequent two allergens detected were house dust mite and pollens. Having atopy was found to be associated with better PFT and higher reversibility in patients with asthma.