Publications by authors named "H Merk"

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are a type of adverse drug reaction that can occur with different classes of drugs and affect multiple organ systems and patient populations. DHRs can be classified as allergic or non-allergic based on the cellular mechanisms involved. Whereas nonallergic reactions rely mainly on the innate immune system, allergic reactions involve the generation of an adaptive immune response.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hymenoptera venom (HV), injected by bees and wasps during stings, can cause allergic reactions in about 3% of people, leading to severe local or systemic allergic reactions in some cases.
  • The guidelines suggest that while symptomatic therapy is needed after a severe local reaction, specific allergen immunotherapy isn't necessary unless severe reactions occur beyond the skin.
  • Clinicians should assess patients for risk factors, measure tryptase levels if reactions are significant, and test for specific IgE antibodies to diagnose sensitization to Hymenoptera venom.
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The consensus-based guideline "Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of hand eczema (HE)" provides concrete instructions and recommendations for diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of HE based on an evidence- and consensus-based approach. The guideline was created based on the German guideline "Management von Handekzemen" from 2009 and the current guideline of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) "Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of hand eczema" from 2022. The general goal of the guideline is to provide dermatologists and allergologists in practice and clinics with an accepted, evidence-based decision-making tool for selecting and conducting suitable and sufficient therapy for patients with hand eczema.

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