J Invest Allerg Clin
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Mastocytosis is a clonal disorder characterized by proliferation and accumulation of mast cells in various tissues, mainly skin and bone marrow. It can cause a wide variety of clinical manifestations-other than urticaria pigmentosa-that can lead to inappropriate release of mediators by mast cells. The most severe manifestation is anaphylaxis. ⋯ Therefore, to prevent severe reactions, it is very important to recognize and avoid potential triggers; in addition, venom-allergic patients must receive lifelong immunotherapy, which has proven very effective. Given that published data on drug anaphylaxis in patients with mast cell disorders are scarce, it is not currently possible to provide clear recommendations. The risk of systemic reactions during general anesthesia can be reduced by assessing risk on an individual basis (previous reaction to a drug or reaction during surgery) and by avoiding specific trigger factors (patient temperature changes, infusion of cold solution, tissue trauma, friction, and other mechanical factors).
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J Invest Allerg Clin · Jan 2013
Peripheral blood eosinophil counts predict the prognosis of drug eruptions.
Previous studies indicated that eosinophils infiltrate the skin during drug eruptions and that counts may become elevated in circulation. However, little is known about the role of eosinophils in the prognosis of patients with drug eruption. ⋯ Our data suggest that circulating eosinophil counts were positively correlated with the severity of the drug eruption. Therefore, corticosteroids may be needed to treat patients with eosinophilia in clinical practice.
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J Invest Allerg Clin · Jan 2013
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialProspective, multicenter clinical trial to validate new products for skin tests in the diagnosis of allergy to penicillin.
Allergy to penicillin is the most commonly reported type of drug hypersensitivity. Diagnosis is currently confirmed using skin tests with benzylpenicillin reagents, ie, penicilloyl-polylysine (PPL) as the major determinant of benzylpenicillin and benzylpenicillin, benzylpenicilloate and benzylpenilloate as a minor determinant mixture (MDM). ⋯ The sensitivity of BP-OL and penilloate was 61%. Considering that amoxicillin was the culprit drug in 71% of reactions, these results indicate that most patients were allergic to the whole group of penicillins. These data support the use of benzylpenicillin determinants in the diagnosis of allergy to beta-lactams, even in predominantly amoxicillin-allergic populations.
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J Invest Allerg Clin · Jan 2013
Costs associated with workdays lost and utilization of health care resources because of asthma in daily clinical practice in Spain.
Asthma is associated with high indirect costs due to lower work productivity and higher absenteeism and presenteeism. ⋯ Our findings could prove useful for physicians and health care providers.