Current allergy and asthma reports
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Although most food-allergic reactions occur after ingestion of nonpackaged food products, the food industry has been subjected to increasing scrutiny of their allergen controls; the resulting impact on the industry has been remarkable. Undeclared food allergens have been responsible for many food product recalls during the past 13 years, and the food industry has made significant investment, effort, and improvements in allergen control during this time. ⋯ Labeling initiatives have been pursued to make ingredient listings more easily understood by food-allergic consumers, but further improvements could still be made. Additional research to determine eliciting doses for allergenic foods is needed to enable science-based risk assessment and risk management.
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Curr Allergy Asthma Rep · Jan 2004
Review Comparative StudyAdverse reactions to neuromuscular blocking agents.
Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) play a predominant role in the incidence of severe adverse reactions occurring during anesthesia. Most hypersensitivity reactions are of immunologic origin (IgE-mediated) or are related to direct stimulation of histamine release. The incidence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis is estimated between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 20,000 anesthesias, and NMBAs represent the most frequently involved substances, with a range of 50% to 70%. ⋯ This should help provide documented advice for future administration of anesthesia. There is no demonstrated evidence for systematic preoperative screening in the general population at this time. Other well-known adverse effects have been described, such as the succinylcholine-triggered cytotoxic effects on muscle cells, but these are responsible for characteristic clinical symptoms, which are usually easy to distinguish from anaphylactic reactions
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Curr Allergy Asthma Rep · Jan 2004
Review Comparative StudyAdverse respiratory reactions to aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is an adult-onset condition that manifests as asthma, rhinosinusitis/nasal polyps, and sensitivity to aspirin and other cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1)-inhibitor nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). There is no cross-sensitivity to highly selective COX-2 inhibitors. AERD is chronic and does not improve with avoidance of COX-1 inhibitors. ⋯ Treatment of AERD patients with antileukotriene medications has been helpful but not preferential when compared with non-AERD patients. An alternative treatment for many AERD patients is aspirin desensitization. This is particularly effective in reducing upper-airway mucosal congestion, nasal polyp formation, and systemic steroids.