Gender, prick test size and rAra h 2 sIgE level may predict the eliciting dose in patients with peanut allergy: Evidence from the Mirabel survey.

Background: Peanut allergy management is based on active avoidance and access to emergency treatment including self-injectable adrenaline. Knowing the dose at which a patient is likely to react is crucial for risk assessment and could significantly improve management by integrating a personalized approach.

Objective: To develop a threshold dose distribution curve model from routinely collected data.

[The use of adrenaline for the treatment of anaphylaxis: the use by first-aid personnel is recommended].

Unlabelled: Anaphylaxis is the most serious form of the IgE-dependent food allergy, with lethal risk. The incidence is sharply rising.

Objective: Analysis of the actual management of anaphylaxis, searching for the appropriateness with the International Guidelines highlighting the absolute need of epinephrine, and further suggestions for the improvement of treatment.

[Drugs as risk factors of food anaphylaxis in adults].

Anaphylaxis is the most severe type of food allergy. Factors of risk are advanced age, cardiopathy, asthma, mastocytosis. Age may be linked to an increased consumption of drugs: aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers, inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE).

[Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis: from clues to evidence].

The high prevalence of allergic rhinitis in westernized countries, and the impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma require a well established diagnosis. Clues of increasing value can be obtained by any practitioner, relying on information about familial and personal atopic background, a precise record of symptoms of nasal hyperreactivity rhinorrhea, sneezing and pruritus, and of the evaluation of symptoms over the year. A precise questionnaire may be completed by a biologic screening for atopy, in order to refer the patient to the allergist to add evidence of the etiology by skin tests, search for specific IgE, and nasal challenges for specific cases.

Skin reactions to intradermal neuromuscular blocking agent injections: a randomized multicenter trial in healthy volunteers.

Background: Numerous reports confirm the performance of intradermal tests for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis during anesthesia; however, there is controversy over their diagnostic value regarding the newer neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs).

Methods: One hundred eleven healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive intradermal injections of two NMBAs, at five increasing concentrations. A concentration was considered as a reactive concentration when it led to a positive reaction in more than 5% of the subjects.

[Cross reactivity of food allergens and its clinical relevance].

Cross-reactions between food allergens and other allergens are a major focus of interest. They include cross-allergies between Betulaceae and Compositae pollen, and also between fruits and vegetables (Prunoideae and Apiaceae). Cross-allergies between animal allergens include mites, cockroaches and crustaceans, milk and meat, animal epithelia, meat and egg.

T cell-mediated reactions to iodinated contrast media: evaluation by skin and lymphocyte activation tests.

Background: In addition to immediate reactions, late adverse reactions to iodinated contrast media (ICM) were reported in 2% to 5% of patients exposed to ICM and, as a consequence, have recently gained more attention. A few well-documented case reports postulate a hypersensitivity mechanism.

Objective: The aim of this study is to demonstrate a T cell-mediated mechanism to the ICM by using in vitro and ex vivo tests.

Update on threshold doses of food allergens: implications for patients and the food industry.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to bring the reader up to date on the importance of assessing a food's lowest observed adverse-effect level (LOAEL) with two aims. Firstly, to help industry choose tests with a level of sensitivity capable of detecting food allergens hidden in industrial products. Secondly, to specify protective measures for highly allergic individuals in order to prevent recurrent severe anaphylaxis.

Spectrum of acute allergic diseases in an emergency department: an evaluation of one years' experience.

Objective: There is limited available literature on the incidence of allergic diseases in ED. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical records of patients admitted to the ED with a suspected allergic reaction.

Methods: A 1 year retrospective study was carried out and data were collected from the patients' computerized medical reports.

HLA-DQ8 and the HLA-DQ8-DR4 haplotype are positively associated with the hevein-specific IgE immune response in health care workers with latex allergy.

Background: Hevein is one of the most important latex allergens affecting health care workers (HCWs).

Objective: Because the genetically determined susceptibility is one important factor regulating type I allergy, the association between the hevein-specific IgE immune response and HLA class II alleles of DQB1 and DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, and DRB5 was studied.

Methods: The distribution of HLA-DQB1 and DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, and DRB5 in 269 HCWs with latex allergy, 56 latex-sensitized patients with spina bifida (SB), and 90 nonatopic control subjects under special consideration for hevein-specific IgE was examined.

Chloroquine hypersensitivity syndrome.

Chloroquine is widely used for antimalarial prophylaxis. We report the first case of delayed hypersensitivity syndrome associated with fever, digestive symptoms, bullous eruption, and eosinophilia due to chloroquine as proven by drug history and a positive patch-test for chloroquine.

Factors affecting the determination of threshold doses for allergenic foods: how much is too much?

Background: Ingestion of small amounts of an offending food can elicit adverse reactions in individuals with IgE-mediated food allergies. The threshold dose for provocation of such reactions is often considered to be zero. However, because of various practical limitations in food production and processing, foods may occasionally contain trace residues of the offending food.