Urinary leukotriene E4 levels in atopic and non-atopic preschool children with recurrent episodic (viral) wheezing: a potential marker?

Unlabelled: Backround: Reliable biological markers for the differentiation of asthma phenotypes in preschool children with wheezing are lacking. The purpose of the study is to assess the relationship of urinary Leukotriene E4 (U-LTE4) to particular asthma phenotypes in preschool children with recurrent episodic (viral) wheezing following upper respiratory tract infections with or without atopic predisposition.

Methods: Ninety-six preschool patients with recurrent episodic wheezing participated, 52 atopic and 44 non-atopic, during exacerbation and in remission.

A 5-year venom immunotherapy protocol with 50 μg maintenance dose: safety and efficacy in school children.

Background: Venom immunotherapy (VIT) has been shown to be an effective and safe treatment for preventing sting-induced anaphylaxis in patients with systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings. A remaining problem is the relative effectiveness and safety of different immunotherapy protocols used with respect to maintenance dose, injection interval, and duration.

Objective: We aimed to describe a modified cluster VIT protocol with a maintenance dose of 50 μg lasting 5 yr and to evaluate retrospectively its safety and efficacy in children.

Reintroduction of cow's milk in milk-allergic children: safety and risk factors.

Background: Although development of clinical tolerance is the rule in allergy to cow's milk (CM), food challenges are required in order to reintroduce CM into the patient's diet. Less 'invasive' procedures able to predict tolerance would be useful as clinical tools. The purpose of this study was to identify potential risk factors for clinical reactivity in CM-allergic children assessed for CM reintroduction.

Duration of postviral airway hyperresponsiveness in children with asthma: effect of atopy.

Background: Respiratory viruses induce asthma exacerbations and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Atopy is an important risk factor for asthma persistence.

Objective: We sought to evaluate whether atopy is a risk factor for prolonged AHR after upper respiratory tract infections (URIs).

The role of respiratory viruses in the origin and exacerbations of asthma.

Purpose Of Review: The present review focuses and comments on the increasing body of evidence correlating respiratory viral infections with asthma onset and exacerbations.

Recent Findings: Recent data suggest multiple and some time contrasting roles for viral infection in the origin of asthma. These data also indicate that the immune status of the host, including atopy, may interactively contribute to this process, conferring susceptibility or even resistance to the development of asthma in virus-infected individuals.