Investigation of the factors that determine the severity of allergic reactions to Hymenoptera venoms.

Many risk factors that facilitate venom allergy and increase systemic reaction severity have been described in various studies, but the data are limited regarding this issue. We aimed to evaluate the impact of total immunoglobulin E (tIgE), specific IgE, and tryptase levels on the severity of systemic reactions in patients with a history of allergic reactions to Hymenoptera stings. Eighty-two patients with a history of allergic reaction to Hymenoptera venom admitted to our outpatient clinic between March 2016 and August 2017 were included.

Effects of intranasal mometasone furoate on blood pressure in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: Nasal congestion as the main symptom in patients with allergic rhinitis can impair nasal breathing. It causes hypoxia and concomitant sympathetic system activation, which may also lead to increased blood pressure levels in these patients.

Objective: We postulated that appropriate therapy, including intranasal steroids, decreases blood pressure levels in patients with allergic rhinitis.

B cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia associated with levetiracetam.

Unlabelled: Levetiracetam (LEV) is a second-generation antiepileptic drug approved for the treatment of several types of epilepsy. We report a 45-year-old female who developed hypogammaglobulinemia and B cell aplasia during LEV treatment. The Naranjo probability score for an adverse drug reaction was 6.

IgE-Mediated Reaction to Metamizole: Evaluation of a Patient with Severe Anaphylaxis.

Metamizole, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with weak anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic effects, is used as an analgesic and antipyretic agent. Many adverse reactions to metamizole, such as early or late-onset systemic reactions and bone marrow suppression, have been identified. In this report, we present a case of systemic reaction after the application of parenteral metamizole (Novalgin(®) ampoule; Sanofi Aventis, İstanbul, Turkey) and discuss the mechanism underlying the reaction.

Common variable immunodeficiency in adults requires reserved protocols for long-term follow-up.

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to establish follow-up protocols for adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in a recently founded adult immunology clinic in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey, where a clinical immunology center for adults was not available previously.

Materials And Methods: A total of 25 patients with CVID aged 18 years and older were included in this study. The file format consisted of 13 pages and was developed for the purpose of the study.

Difficulties encountered in the emergency department by patients with hereditary angioedema experiencing acute attacks.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare, potentially life-threatening disease characterized by recurrent angioedema attacks. Abdominal symptoms of HAE typically mimic numerous abdominal emergencies, which may result in a delay of correct diagnosis and inappropriate treatments.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the difficulties experienced by patients with HAE in Turkish emergency departments (ED).

How effective are the 6 European Society of Immunodeficiency warning signs for primary immunodeficiency disease?

Background: The European Society of Immunodeficiency (ESID) developed 6 warning signs to promote the awareness of adult primary immunodeficiency disease (PID).

Objective: To screen adult patients for the presence of PID using these 6 warning signs to determine the effectiveness of this protocol.

Methods: Questions related to the ESID warning signs for adult PID were added to the standard outpatient clinic file system and asked of 3,510 patients who were admitted to our clinic for any reason.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging May Be a Valuable Radiation-Free Technique for Lung Pathologies in Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency.

Purpose: In some primary immunodeficiency (PID) patients, especially in the subgroup with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), radiosensitivity is a concern and avoidance of repeated radiation exposure has been recommended. To investigate the use of lung Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instead of Computed Tomography (CT) for the diagnosis and follow-up of various lesions in the lung parenchyma and airways, especially in PID patients in whom x-ray exposure should be limited.

Methods: The study enrolled 23 patients with PID who underwent thorax CT within the last 3 months and/or who will undergo initial radiological assessment.

Accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with common variable immunodeficiency: Is it overlooked or absent?

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous primary deficiency characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections, and an increased risk of autoimmune disease and malignancy, and so chronic inflammation. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the general population. Recent studies have suggested that chronic inflammation is an important player in the pathogenesis of CVID.

Common variable immunodeficiency and pulmonary amyloidosis: a case report.

Common variable immunodeficiency is the most common symptomatic primary immune deficiency characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections, and increased risk of autoimmune disease and malignancy. Secondary amyloidosis develops from chronic inflammatory conditions. The co-existence of CVID (especially in patients with bronchiectasis) and secondary amyloidosis has been reported rarely.

A Cases of Near-fatal Anaphylaxis: Parsley "Over-use" as an Herbal Remedy.

The use of herbal products in patients with allergic diseases is a special problem and still controversial. But, many people often use herbs to maintain good health. The patients use self-prescribed remedies as medications but do not inform their physicians about herbal use.

Contact dermatitis to cobalt chloride with an unusual mechanism.

Background: Contact dermatitis is a frequent inflammatory skin disease. A suspected diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, a plausible contact to allergens and a suitable history of dermatitis. Therefore, careful diagnosis by patch testing is of great importance because the patch testing is important to find out which allergen/material causes the complaints.

The knowledge and considerations of the physicians regarding the inhaler devices in asthma and COPD: the INTEDA-1 study.

Introduction: The present paper was aimed at indicating and discussing the possible problems related to inhaler devices by considering the knowledge and practices of the physicians regarding the inhalation therapies.

Materials And Methods: The present study is a prospective, cross-sectional survey carried out by Turkish Respiratory Society Inhalation Therapy Group between February 2010 and February 2011 with a participation of ten individual centres. Seven inhaler devices that were available on the market in the country were assessed.

IgE-mediated reaction to local anaesthetics.

Local anaesthetics (LAs) are essential agents in daily practices of dentistry, minor surgery and dermatology. Although they have an impressive history of safety and efficacy, LAs also have the potential to produce adverse events, which are mainly of non-immune nature. The true IgE-mediated allergies are quite rare, but are more considerable in terms of ability to cause life-threatening outcomes.

Chronic urticaria in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis: significance of severity of thyroid gland inflammation.

Background: There is a clear association between autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) and chronic urticaria/angioedema (CUA). However, not all patients with AT demonstrate urticaria.

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate in which patients with AT did CUA become a problem.

Dermographism and atopy in patients with Behçet's disease.

Dermographism is the appearance of whealing and erythema within minutes in a site where skin has been exposed to pressure or mechanical irritation. In our clinical observations, dermographism seems to be frequent in patients with Behçet's disease. Since the prevalence of allergic responses is reportedly increased in vasculitic syndromes, we aimed to assess dermographism and atopy in a group of Behçet's patients.

Fever of unknown origin in a 10-year-old boy with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

We believe this case represents a clear example of drug fever, and it appears to be the first report to implicate ketotifen as the responsible agent, confirmed with double rechallenge. The recognition of drug fever is clinically important. Failure to recognize the etiologic relationship between the drug and fever has unnecessary consequences, including extra testing, empiric therapy, and longer hospital stays.

Effects of allergen immunotherapy on the nasal mucosa in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Despite the varied immunological changes occurring after allergen immunotherapy, the precise mechanism, or the mechanisms responsible for clinical effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy have not been clearly determined. Postulated immunomodulatory mechanisms include a decrease in cellular responsiveness, a production of blocking antibodies, a reduction in the number of mast cells, and activation of T-cell suppressor mechanisms. Nineteen allergic rhinitis patients (study group) with house dust mite sensitivity and 10 nonallergic control subjects were studied.