Long-term assessment of esophageal remodeling in patients with pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis treated with topical corticosteroids.

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic TH2 inflammatory disease characterized by tissue remodeling that leads to esophageal strictures and food impactions. Effects of therapy on long-term remodeling in patients with pediatric eosinophil-associated diseases have not been previously described.

Objective: We sought to understand the long-term control of esophageal remodeling in patients with EoE.

A 68-year old woman with asymptomatic hypereosinophilia.

Eosinophilia is known to have a wide variety of etiologies including atopic diseases, infections, endocrine abnormalities, hematologic/neoplastic causes, and certain immunodeficiency disorders. In contrast, hypereosinophilic syndromes refer to a group of heterogeneous disorders with persistent eosinophilia and organ involvement. The treatment of eosinophilia varies widely based on its etiology and therefore should be evaluated thoroughly at onset.

Prevalence of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease among asthmatic patients: A meta-analysis of the literature.

Background: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is manifested by adult-onset asthma, nasal polyposis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and aspirin sensitivity. Previously reported prevalence rates have been widely variable based on the population studied, method of diagnosis, and definition of aspirin sensitivity.

Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of AERD among asthmatic adults.

Prevalence of sensitivity to food and drug additives in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Background: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is defined as the presence of urticaria most days of the week for a period of 6 weeks or longer. There have been reports of food additive sensitivity in CIU previously, but the prevalence has not been precisely determined.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of reactions to food and drug additives in patients with CIU.

Adverse reactions during drug challenges: a single US institution's experience.

Background: Drug challenge is a useful tool when diagnostic testing lacks predictive value for a questionable history of drug allergy. Placebo-controlled drug challenge studies demonstrate that a significant number of patients report purely subjective symptoms to placebo.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and rate of adverse effects when performing drug challenges and to identify predictive factors for occurrences of subjective symptoms during drug challenges.