Multinational Drug Survival Study of Omalizumab in Patients With Chronic Urticaria and Potential Predictors for Discontinuation.

Importance: Treating patients with chronic urticaria using omalizumab has been shown to be safe and effective in randomized clinical trials. Multinational studies on long-term omalizumab performance in chronic urticaria in clinical practice settings are lacking, especially on drug survival. Drug survival, which refers to the length of time that patients are treated with a specific drug, is a comprehensive outcome covering effectiveness, safety, and patient and physician preferences.

Efficacy and safety of ligelizumab in adults and adolescents with chronic spontaneous urticaria: results of two phase 3 randomised controlled trials.

Background: Many patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) do not achieve complete control of their symptoms with current available treatments. In a dose-finding phase 2b study, ligelizumab improved urticaria symptoms in patients with H1-antihistamine (H1-AH) refractory CSU. Here, we report the efficacy and safety outcomes from two ligelizumab phase 3 studies.

Allergies and COVID-19 vaccines: An ENDA/EAACI Position paper.

Background: Anaphylaxis, which is rare, has been reported after COVID-19 vaccination, but its management is not standardized.

Method: Members of the European Network for Drug Allergy and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology interested in drug allergy participated in an online questionnaire on pre-vaccination screening and management of allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and literature was analysed.

Results: No death due to anaphylaxis to COVID-19 vaccines has been confirmed in scientific literature.

Systemic and local evidence for complement involvement in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), including the mechanism of action of omalizumab, remain unclear. We hypothesized complement system involvement given the often fast clinical response induced by treatment, including omalizumab. Therefore, we assessed the role of various complement factors surrounding omalizumab treatment.

Safety and effectiveness of omalizumab for the treatment of chronic urticaria in pediatric patients.

Background: Evidence on safety and effectiveness of omalizumab for treatment of chronic urticaria in pediatric patients is scarce and limited to case reports. In particular, drug survival of omalizumab has not yet been investigated, which is a key element in the evaluation of its clinical performance. The aim of this study was to investigate safety, effectiveness, and drug survival rates of omalizumab in a daily practice cohort of pediatric patients with chronic urticaria (CU).

Response of FcεRI-bearing leucocytes to omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and the mechanism of action of omalizumab in CSU remain unclear.

Objective: In this study, we assessed the responsiveness and FcεRI expression of various subsets of leucocytes in patients with CSU treated with omalizumab.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 30 patients were treated with 6 administrations of 300 mg omalizumab every 4 weeks, followed by a follow-up period of 12 weeks.

Occurrence of an Abscopal Radiation Recall Phenomenon in a Glioblastoma Patient Treated with Nivolumab and Re-Irradiation.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most frequent primary brain tumor. The clinical course of glioblastoma is almost invariably fatal. Combined chemo-irradiation with temozolomide is currently the standard of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma and concurrent Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody is being studied for de novo glioblastoma.

Evidence for bradykinin release in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by recurrent itchy weals and/or angioedema and is believed to be driven by mast cell activation. It was shown that excessive mast cell activation during anaphylaxis initiates contact activation, resulting in bradykinin release. Evidence for bradykinin release was never demonstrated in CSU.

High occurrence of antihistamine resistance in patients with recurrent idiopathic angioedema.

Antihistamines are the most prescribed therapy in recurrent idiopathic angioedema, yet little is known about their efficacy. Herein, we report on clinical improvement with antihistamine therapy in 120 patients evaluating angioedema attack frequency. A high incidence (36%) of antihistamine refractory cases was observed.

Sensitization to PR-10 proteins is indicative of distinctive sensitization patterns in adults with a suspected food allergy.

Background: The extent of co-sensitization within and between food protein families in an adult population is largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the most frequently recognized components in the PR-10 and storage protein family, as well as patterns in (co-)sensitization, in a birch-endemic area.

Methods: Results of ImmunoCAP ISAC, performed during routine care in Dutch adult outpatients suspected of food allergy, were collected.

The impact of penicillin allergy labels on antibiotic and health care use in primary care: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Suspected penicillin allergy (Pen-A) is often not verified by diagnostic testing. In third line penicillin allergy labels were associated with prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics, hospital stay duration and readmission.

Objective: Assess the impact of Pen-A labels on antibiotic and health care use in primary care.

The High Impact of Penicillin Allergy Registration in Hospitalized Patients.

Background: Suspected penicillin allergy (Pen-A) is often not verified or excluded by diagnostic testing.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and impact of Pen-A registration in a Dutch University Medical Center.

Methods: In a prospective matched cohort study, all admitted patients (July 2013-July 2014) who underwent a pharmacotherapeutic interview were selected.

Diagnosis of allergy against beta-lactams in primary care: prevalence and diagnostic criteria.

Background: Secondary care studies showed that a recorded allergy to beta-lactams could not be confirmed by valid allergy testing in >85% of cases. In daily practice, recorded beta-lactam allergies probably cause prescription of secondary choice antibiotics. This overrating of beta-lactam allergy hampers appropriate use of narrow spectrum antibiotic and generates unnecessary cost and bacterial resistance.

Anaphylaxis to Spirulina confirmed by skin prick test with ingredients of Spirulina tablets.

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), blue-green microalgae, has high content in proteins, γ-linoleic acid and vitamins and therefore gained popularity as food supplement. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Spirulina is also an interesting alternative and sustainable protein source with the growing world population. We present a case of a 17-year-old male, who developed anaphylaxis the first time he ingested a Spirulina tablet.

Utility of serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine as a biomarker for monitoring of atopic dermatitis severity.

Background: Serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (sTARC) levels reflect disease severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in small study populations. It remains unclear whether sTARC is a reliable outcome measurement for AD severity in heterogeneous AD populations in daily practice.

Objective: We sought to assess the utility of sTARC as a biomarker for monitoring AD severity in adults in daily practice.

Food allergen sensitization pattern in adults in relation to severity of atopic dermatitis.

Background: Limited data are available on the frequency of IgE mediated food sensitization and food allergy (FA) in adults with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective: We investigated the pattern of food sensitization in adults with AD in relation to AD severity using multiplexed allergen microarray.

Methods: 211 adult patients referred between January 2010-July 2011 for evaluation of AD were unselectively included.

Tolerance to alternative cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug hypersensitive patients.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) frequently cause adverse drug reactions. Many studies have shown that drugs which selectively inhibit the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) are safe alternatives in the majority of patients. However, hypersensitivity reactions to COX-2 inhibitors have been published.