Evaluation of the Cytokine Response Induced by Specific Allergen Immunotherapy in Patients with Vespa velutina Anaphylaxis.

Introduction: Changes in the cytokine profile from type 2 to type 1 together with the induction of regulatory cells are expected during hymenoptera venom immunotherapy (VIT). The present study was aimed to investigate the changes in type 1, type 2, and regulatory cytokines induced by a Vespula spp. VIT in patients with anaphylaxis to Vespa velutina.

Efficacy and Safety of Up-dosing Antihistamines in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background And Objectives: According to current guidelines, oral antihistamines are the first-line treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Up-dosing antihistamines to 4-fold the licensed dose is recommended if control is not achieved. Such indications are based mainly on expert opinion.

Anaphylaxis to Vespa velutina nigrithorax: Pattern of Sensitization for an Emerging Problem in Western Countries.

Objective: To define the sensitization pattern of patients with anaphylaxis to Vespa velutina nigrithorax (VVN).

Methods: We studied 100 consecutive Spanish patients with anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venom and systematically determined specific IgE (sIgE) to whole venoms (Vespula species, Polistes dominula, Apis mellifera, Vespa crabro, and Dolichovespula maculata) and their molecular components (rApi m 1, rApi m 5, rApi m 10, rVes v 1, rVes v 5, rPol d 5, and cross-reactive carbohydrates). Specific IgE to VVN venom and its antigen 5 (nVesp v 5) were measured in a subsample.

Sensitization pattern of crustacean-allergic individuals can indicate allergy to molluscs.

This study investigated the sensitization pattern of crustacean-allergic patients according to tolerance to molluscs. Thirty-one patients with anaphylaxis to crustaceans (14 with mollusc allergy and 17 with mollusc tolerance) were studied using skin prick tests (SPTs), specific IgEs (sIgEs) and SDS-PAGE immunoblotting. IgE-reactive shrimp proteins were identified by proteomic analyses.

Cross-Sectional Validation of a Quality of Life Questionnaire in Spanish for Patients Allergic to Hymenoptera Venom.

Introduction And Objectives: The first quality of life questionnaire for Vespula-allergic patients (Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire [VQLQ) was developed in 2002. Our objective was to perform the cross-sectional validation of the Spanish version of this questionnaire.

Patients And Methods: Using the original English-language version of the VQLQ as a starting point, the Spanish translation and cultural adaptation were performed and the first Spanish version was backtranslated into English and discussed with the authors of the original version.

Minor interference of cross-reactive carbohydrates with the diagnosis of respiratory allergy in standard clinical conditions.

Background: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) to N-glycans from plant and invertebrate glycoproteins induces extensive in vitro cross-reactivity. This study investigates the prevalence and diagnostic relevance of IgE to these N-glycans [cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs)] in patients with suspicion of respiratory allergy.

Methods: A total of 1,025 adult subjects with symptoms of rhinitis and/or asthma from a reference allergy clinic were studied.

Assessment of short-term changes induced by a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract on asthmatic patients. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Once the optimal dose is reached, subcutaneous immunotherapy [SCIT] with mite extract is capable of reducing symptoms and the need for rescue medication.

Objective: To assess the capacity of a subcutaneous extract of mites [D. pteronyssinus] to bring about a reduction in concomitant medication as well as in vivo and in vitro changes in just 2-3 months of treatment in patients with allergic asthma.

[Eosinophilic esophagitis due to allergy to sheep and goat milk proteins].

Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized by the presence of high numbers of eosinophils in the esophageal mucosal layer (> 20 high-power field). It is uncommon in adults but in such cases intermittent dysphagia and food impaction are the most common presenting symptoms. We report the case of a male with long-standing intermittent dysphagia after eating selected goat and sheep cheese types, who required medical help following the impaction of an ibuprofen pill in the esophagus.

Anaphylaxis to Hippobosca equina (louse fly).

Background: IgE-mediated allergy to insects different from Hymenoptera species is seldom reported.

Objective: To describe and study the case of a previously nonatopic man with an anaphylactic reaction (grade III, Müeller) caused by a bite from a louse fly (Hippobosca equina).

Methods: In vivo (skin prick tests) and in vitro (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting) tests were used for diagnosis.

Prawns, barnacles, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: effect modifiers or diagnostic confounders [corrected].

A 42-year-old woman with no history of atopy reported several episodes of generalized urticaria and shortness of breath after eating shellfish (prawns and barnacles) but with good tolerance of the same foods between episodes. Skin prick tests (SPTs), serum enzyme allergosorbent tests (EAST) for specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, Western blot and inhibition assays, and oral challenge tests with prawns, barnacles, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and alcohol as potential effect modifiers were performed. Specific IgE to both barnacle and prawn were detected by SPTs and EAST.

Food allergy to Paracentrotus lividus (sea urchin roe).

Background: Sea urchins are increasingly used as culinary products in Japanese and Korean cuisine throughout the world.

Objective: To investigate a possible IgE-mediated allergy in a patient who experienced an anaphylactic reaction after eating sea urchin roe and mussels.

Patient And Methods: A 40-year-old man experienced generalized pruritus and urticaria, shortness of breath, and wheezing 10 minutes after eating steamed mussels and boiled sea urchin roe.

Anaphylaxis to Cyphomandra betacea Sendth (tamarillo) in an obeche wood (Triplochiton scleroxylon)--allergic patient.

Background: Anaphylaxis after the first exposure to a food allergen is uncommon unless a cross-reaction is present.

Objective: To investigate a possible relationship between the fruit Cyphomandra betacea Sendth (commonly known as tamarillo) and the wood of Triplochiton scleroxylon (obeche) in a patient with allergic occupational bronchial asthma due to obeche wood who began to experience anaphylaxis episodes after eating tamarillo.

Methods: A 33-year-old carpenter exposed to obeche wood in his occupation was initially seen with rhinitis and bronchial asthma.

Relationship of clinical and aerobiological pollen data in the north-west of Spain.

Background: few studies report clinical and aerobiological pollen data in the north-west of Spain, a region similar to northern and central Europe. Moreover, it is difficult to obtain patients' collaboration in filling out symptom cards. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between pollen types and clinical data obtained through questionnaire and telephone calls.

Influence of alcohol consumption on serum immunoglobulin E levels in atopic and nonatopic adults.

Background: Total and specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) are routinely used as diagnostic tools in allergy clinics. Several studies have demonstrated an increase of total serum IgE concentrations in alcoholics, but the possible influence of lower quantities of ethanol intake on serum IgE values has not been fully evaluated. This study was aimed at analyzing the influence of alcohol intake on both total and specific serum IgE concentrations in patients studied in an allergy clinic.

Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans presented as a pseudoallergic food reaction.

Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP) is a rare form of cutaneous mastocytosis observed in less than 1% of cases of mastocytosis. Clinically, anaphylaxis may appear as a result of increased mast cell degranulation in different circumstances. A case of TMEP presented as pseudoallergic reactions to foods is reported in which the appearance of typical lesions on the trunk and their histological analysis together with a negative food allergy study confirmed the diagnosis.

Factors influencing the clinical picture and the differential sensitization to house dust mites and storage mites.

Sensitization to house dust mites and storage mites has been studied in a number of papers, but several environmental factors and clinical conditions that differently affect sensitization to these mites are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of climatic conditions, occupation and patient age in the differential sensitization to house dust and storage mites, and also to search for possible different symptoms caused by each group of mites. Eighty patients sensitized to mites but not to other inhalant allergens were studied by case history and by skin prick test and serum IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.