The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
-
J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Sep 2004
Comparative Study Clinical TrialSafety and application of induced sputum analysis in childhood asthma.
The value of sputum induction in pediatric asthma lies in its potential to directly and noninvasively assess airway inflammation in children, because bronchoscopy and biopsy carry some risk. The Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) study was designed to evaluate the long-term effects of budesonide and nedocromil compared with placebo in children with mild to moderate asthma across 8 centers. ⋯ Sputum induction is a relatively noninvasive and safe procedure that can provide information on eosinophilic inflammation and treatment response and is also associated with several measures of asthma control. However, this procedure still remains a research tool in asthma because of its requirements for technical expertise.
-
J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Sep 2004
Hereditary and acquired angioedema: problems and progress: proceedings of the third C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency workshop and beyond.
Hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare but life-threatening condition, manifests as acute attacks of facial, laryngeal, genital, or peripheral swelling or abdominal pain secondary to intra-abdominal edema. Resulting from mutations affecting C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), inhibitor of the first complement system component, attacks are not histamine-mediated and do not respond to antihistamines or corticosteroids. Low awareness and resemblance to other disorders often delay diagnosis; despite availability of C1-INH replacement in some countries, no approved, safe acute attack therapy exists in the United States. ⋯ Causes and management of acquired angioedema and a new type of angioedema with normal C1-INH are also discussed. Collaborative patient and physician efforts, crucial in rare diseases, are emphasized. This supplement seeks to raise awareness and aid diagnosis of HAE, optimize treatment for all patients, and provide a platform for further research in this rare, partially understood disorder.
-
J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Sep 2004
LPS binding protein is important in the airway response to inhaled endotoxin.
Inhaled endotoxin is a risk factor for asthma exacerbation, and endotoxin inhalation by itself recapitulates many of the classical features of asthma in mice, including reversible airflow obstruction and inflammation, airways hyperresponsiveness, and airway remodeling. ⋯ These findings indicate that LBP is one of the critical molecules regulating the acute and chronic airway response to inhaled LPS.