The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 2004
Multicenter StudyMulticenter study of emergency department visits for food allergies.
Relatively little is known about the characteristics of patients who visit the emergency department (ED) for an acute allergic reaction. Although anaphylaxis guidelines suggest treatment with epinephrine, teaching about self-injectable epinephrine, and referral to an allergist, current ED management remains uncertain. ⋯ Although guidelines suggest specific approaches for the management of acute allergic reactions, ED concordance for food allergy appears low. These findings support a new collaboration between professional organizations in allergy and emergency medicine and the development of educational programs and materials for ED patients and staff.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialThe addition of zafirlukast to cetirizine improves the treatment of chronic urticaria in patients with positive autologous serum skin test results.
Because leukotrienes have potent local effects on cutaneous vasculature, leukotriene antagonists might be effective in the treatment of chronic urticaria. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that only patients with autoimmune (ASST positive) chronic urticaria refractory to H(1)-antagonist monotherapy might benefit from the addition of the leukotriene D(4)-receptor antagonist zafirlukast to their treatment regimen. These results also suggest that routine screening of patients with chronic urticaria with the ASST might be useful in formulating therapeutic algorithms in the management of chronic urticaria.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Nov 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialFamily-based association analysis of beta2-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms in the childhood asthma management program.
Beta2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) polymorphisms have been associated with a variety of asthma-related phenotypes, but association results have been inconsistent across different studies. ⋯ B2AR variants are associated with spirometric values and bronchodilator responsiveness, but different regions of the gene provide evidence for association with these phenotypes.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialAnti-IL-5 (mepolizumab) therapy induces bone marrow eosinophil maturational arrest and decreases eosinophil progenitors in the bronchial mucosa of atopic asthmatics.
Eosinophils develop from CD34(+) progenitors under the influence of IL-5. Atopic asthmatic individuals have increased numbers of mature eosinophils and eosinophil pro-genitors within their bone marrow and bronchial mucosa. We have previously reported that anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody treatment decreases total bone marrow and bronchial mucosal eosinophil numbers in asthma. ⋯ These data suggest that anti-IL-5 therapy might induce partial maturational arrest of the eosinophil lineage in the bone marrow. The reduction in airway CD34(+)/IL-5 mRNA(+) cell numbers suggests that IL-5 might also be required for local tissue eosinophilopoiesis.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialOmalizumab improves asthma-related quality of life in patients with severe allergic asthma.
We have previously shown that omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, reduces asthma exacerbations and decreases inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) requirement in patients with severe allergic asthma who were symptomatic despite moderate-to-high doses of ICSs. ⋯ In patients requiring moderate-to-high doses of ICSs for severe allergic asthma, the measurably improved disease control afforded by add-on omalizumab therapy is paralleled by clinically meaningful improvements in asthma-related QOL.