Performance of a component-based allergen-microarray in the diagnosis of cow's milk and hen's egg allergy.

Background: The food challenge test (FCT) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of food allergy. This procedure is time consuming, costly and can induce potentially severe symptoms. An ideal in vitro test should allow to avoid the FCT.

Accuracy of a point-of-care testing device in children with suspected respiratory allergy.

Measuring IgE antibodies is useful in the diagnostic workup of allergy and asthma. This study was designed to assess the value of a new point-of-care test (ImmunoCAP Rapid Wheeze-Rhinitis Child [ICR]; Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden) in the diagnosis of atopy in children with allergy-like symptoms such as rhinitis, eczema, and recurrent episodes of wheezing. Patients (n = 175; average age, 7.

Long-term follow-up and outcome of a large cohort of patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency belongs to the group of rare diseases encompassing antibody deficiency syndromes of highly variable clinical presentation and outcome. The multicenter prospective study on a cohort of 224 patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency provides an updated view of the spectrum of illnesses which occurred at the clinical onset and over a long period of follow-up (mean time: 11 years) and information on the effects of long-term immunoglobulin treatment. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 26.

The loss of IgM memory B cells correlates with clinical disease in common variable immunodeficiency.

Background: Recurrent lower respiratory tract infections caused by encapsulated bacteria might cause permanent organ damage in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Despite the profound hypogammaglobulinemia, some patients do not experience bacterial pneumonia. We have shown that IgM memory B cells and natural antibodies play an important role in the defense against encapsulated bacteria.

European surveillance of immunoglobulin safety--results of initial survey of 1243 patients with primary immunodeficiencies in 16 countries.

A European multicenter study was conducted to obtain information on the current practices of immunoglobulin administration, the policies in use for the surveillance of the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission, and the natural history of HCV infection in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. Data from 1243 patients with primary immunodeficiencies in 16 countries demonstrated that 90% of patients with antibody deficiencies receive intravenous immunoglobulins in an inpatient setting, and 7% of patients are treated with subcutaneous immunoglobulins, mainly at home. Wide variations have been reported regarding the frequency and the type of tests monitored for the surveillance on the risk of viral hepatitis transmission.

Evaluation of T-cell response to CD3 plus CD28 monoclonal antibodies in HIV-1 infected subjects treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

To investigate whether highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) could improve CD28 molecule expression and CD28-costimulation pathway function we tested the effect of CD28-costimulation on T cell receptor/CD3 induced proliferative responses in a group of HIV-1-infected subjects with CD4+ cells>200/mmc before and after HAART. CD3-mediated responses are recovered or improved after HAART. However the ability of potentiating the responses through CD28-costimulation seemed conserved before therapy and decreased in parallel with increase of response to CD3 alone.