Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Dec 2000
Bone mineral density in women with asthma on long-term inhaled corticosteroid therapy.
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have become first line agents in the management of moderate-to-severe asthma. Long-term use of ICS is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD). ⋯ The findings of increasing BMD loss with increasing ICS dose reinforce the necessity to monitor BMD periodically in women on ICS, particularly in the high risk postmenopausal group and those on medium to high doses. There should be a concurrent continual attempt to lower the dose by supplemental nonsteroidal controller medications and providing nutritional and pharmacologic treatment of identified BMD loss in these patients.
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This review of allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) will enable the reader to (1) differentiate AFS from the other forms of fungal sinusitis, (2) understand AFS pathophysiology, (3) recognize AFS clinical presentation, (4) prepare an effective treatment and follow-up strategy, and (5) avoid diagnostic and treatment pitfalls. ⋯ Allergic fungal sinusitis is a new allergic disorder with recognizable clinical and histopathologic findings. Treatment requires aggressive allergy management, postoperative OCS, monitoring of total serum IgE, and medical/surgical co-management.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · May 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialFexofenadine HCl is safe and effective for treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Fexofenadine is a nonsedating antihistamine approved for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. ⋯ Fexofenadine HCl significantly reduced pruritus severity, number of wheals, and interference with sleep and normal daily activities in patients with chronic urticaria compared with placebo. Twice-daily doses of 60 mg or greater were most effective.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Feb 2000
ReviewRole for cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy in asthma and their potential role in allergic rhinitis based on the concept of "one linked airway disease".
This review focuses on the shared pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis. The similarities illustrate the "one linked airway disease" concept, a unifying theory of these upper and lower airway inflammatory disorders. Since leukotrienes are mediators in both conditions, studies have been performed to assess the potential therapeutic role of cysteinyl leukotriene antagonists. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the accumulating data concerning these agents in treating asthma and allergic rhinitis. ⋯ Studies to date have documented the efficacy of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists for asthma. The pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis and its similarities to asthma suggest that these agents could play a significant therapeutic role in managing this upper airway disorder. Because the leukotriene antagonists are oral agents, they may be valuable in treating not only either condition but also both at the same time when they coexist. They appear to be beneficial when prescribed as the initial medicine and when used in conjunction with other therapies.