Hypersensitivity to Gadolinium-Based Contrast Media.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are frequently used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations to increase sensitivity in diagnoses. Recently, an increase in the description of hypersensitivity reactions to GBCAs has been detected. We performed research in PubMed, PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE until September 2021, searching for studies regarding immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents in which an allergy study was performed.

Angioedema Due to Acquired Deficiency of C1-Inhibitor: A Cohort Study in Spain and a Comparison With Other Series.

Background: Data on acquired angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-AAE) from 4 European countries (France, Italy, Germany, and Hungary) were recently published.

Objective: To report data from a group of 50 patients with acquired C1-INH deficiency from Spain, of whom 46 had angioedema, and compare them with other European series.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of 46 patients with C1-INH-AAE and 4 asymptomatic patients.

Analysis of the Costs Associated With the Elective Evaluation of Patients Labelled as Allergic to Beta-Lactams or Nonsteroidal Antiinflamatory Agents.

Being labelled as allergic to different drugs results in patients receiving other treatments, which are more toxic, less effective and more expensive. We aimed to analyze different studies of the costs of drug hypersensitivity assessment. A bibliographic search on studies regarding this issue was performed, including the available scientific evidence up to June 2020.

Usefulness of an Artificial Neural Network in the Prediction of β-Lactam Allergy.

Background: An accurate diagnosis of β-lactam (BL) allergy improves the use of antibiotics, increases patients' safety, and reduces costs to health systems. Nevertheless, it requires skin and drug provocation tests, which are time-consuming and put the patient at risk. Furthermore, allergy testing is not available in circumstances such as the urgent need for antibiotic therapy.

Cluster Analysis Identifies 3 Phenotypes within Allergic Asthma.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic disease with different clinical expressions and responses to treatment. In recent years, several unbiased approaches based on clinical, physiological, and molecular features have described several phenotypes of asthma. Some phenotypes are allergic, but little is known about whether these phenotypes can be further subdivided.

Using β-lactam antibiotics in patients with a history of β-lactam allergy: current concepts.

β-lactams are the most widely used antibiotic family, but they are also the most common cause of drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions. The estimated prevalence of reported penicillin allergy ranges between 9% and 12%, although a high percentage of patients with a history of penicillin allergy have no subsequent reactions on reexposure to β-lactams. A self-reported penicillin allergy has been associated with antimicrobial resistance, increased cost, intensive care admission, and death, making it essential to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Hypersensitivity reactions to cephalosporins.

At present, cephalosporins represent one of the most prescribed classes of antibiotics. Although allergic reactions have been estimated to be infrequent, the number of reactions to cephalosporins is increasing due to their wide use. Cross-reactivity with penicillins has mainly been evaluated in patients with penicillin allergy.

Molecular analysis of activation-induced cytidine deaminase gene in immunoglobulin-E deficient patients.

Understanding how class switch recombination (CSR) is regulated to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) has become fundamental because of the dramatic increase in the prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. CSR requires the induction of the enzyme AICDA in B cells. Mutations in AICDA have been linked to Hyper-IgM syndrome (HIGM2), which shows absence of switching to IgE as well as to IgG and IgA.

927T>C polymorphism of the cysteinyl-leukotriene type-1 receptor (CYSLTR1) gene in children with asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Asthma and atopic dermatitis share several common features and Cysteinyl-leukotrienes are mediators that participate in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Recently, a new polymorphism (927T>C) has been identified in cysteinyl-leukotriene type-1 receptor (CYSLTR1) gene. This gene is found on the X chromosome.

Interleukin-4 (IL4) and Interleukin-4 receptor (IL4RA) polymorphisms in asthma: a case control study.

Background: IL4/IL4RA pathway plays an important role in atopy and asthma. Different polymorphisms in IL4 and IL4RA genes have been described. Particularly, -33C>TIL4 and 576Q>RIL4RA SNPs have been independently associated to atopy and asthma.

[IL4RA gene polymorphism (Q576R) is associated with higher total IgE levels in Spanish patients with family history of atopy].

Background And Objective: Atopy is a common immunological disorder underlying allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma. There is an association between atopy and the polymorphism Q576R in the IL4RA gene. The aim of this study is to analyze the allelic distribution of the Q576R polymorphism in an atopic and non atopic population and the relationship with total IgE levels and the family history of atopy.