Publications by authors named "Knut Brockow"

Background: Anaphylaxis is a systemic allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening. Occupational anaphylaxis is an anaphylaxis that occurs in an occupational context. In this position paper, we propose diagnostic criteria for occupational anaphylaxis and provide an overview of the current state of knowledge in terms of prevalence, triggers, prevention, and management.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Patients with mastocytosis (MC) have an increased risk of severe anaphylaxis. They report hypersensitivity reactions to drugs and food, but causality often remains questionable. Most allergy centers avoid oral challenge tests (OCT) in MC patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are severe, drug-induced skin conditions that can be life-threatening and are now viewed as different levels of the same disease known as epidermal necrolysis (EN).
  • A new guideline has been created based on scientific literature and expert consensus to help medical professionals in diagnosing and treating EN.
  • This guideline targets various specialists like dermatologists and intensive care doctors, as well as informing patients, families, insurers, and policymakers about EN and includes recommendations for acute care and follow-up treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are serious, mostly drug-related conditions that affect the skin and mucous membranes, categorized under the umbrella term epidermal necrolysis (EN), which varies in severity.* -
  • A new guideline for diagnosing and treating SJS/TEN was created based on extensive scientific research and consensus among experts, involving various medical specialties to provide a comprehensive approach to patient care.* -
  • The guideline is designed for healthcare professionals across multiple fields, as well as patients, their families, insurers, and policymakers, with the first part specifically addressing diagnosis, initial treatment, and systemic immunotherapy.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Mastocytosis is a disorder characterized by an abnormal increase of mast cells in one or more organs, with varying symptoms and outcomes; it's classified into cutaneous, systemic, and MC sarcoma types by the WHO.
  • - The disease often involves a specific mutation (D816V) in most systemic mastocytosis cases, affecting life expectancy significantly based on the type, with those having nonadvanced forms generally living near-normal lifespans, while advanced forms have limited life expectancies.
  • - Recently, a group of experts proposed updated diagnostic criteria and classifications for mastocytosis, aiming to unify different classifications from previous organizations to improve research and clinical comparisons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * The basophil activation test (BAT) has gained importance as a sensitive and useful diagnostic tool, particularly for ambiguous cases of Hymenoptera venom allergies.
  • * BAT results can predict VIT side effects and treatment failures while also aiding research into the allergenic components of various Hymenoptera venoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) is an unresolved concern. Hidden allergens may be relevant in IA and in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug hypersensitivity (NSAID-HS).

Objective: To identify hidden elicitors for IA and NSAID-HS by a skin prick test (SPT) (13 allergens) and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) panel (12 allergens) and to determine the value of each tested allergen.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Flow cytometry-based basophil activation tests (BAT) have been performed with various modifications, differing in the use of distinct identification and activation markers. Established tests use liquid reagents while a new development involves the use of tubes with dried antibody reagents. The aim of this pilot study was to compare these two techniques in patients with insect venom allergy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Hypersensitivity reactions (HR) are common in mastocytosis, a condition analyzed using data from the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM), involving 2485 adults.
  • About 38.1% of patients reported HR, with Hymenoptera venoms being the primary trigger for cutaneous mastocytosis and indolent systemic mastocytosis, while drug reactions were more common in advanced systemic mastocytosis.
  • Key risk factors for HR include lower tryptase levels, minimal mast cell infiltration in bone marrow, and a diagnosis of indolent systemic mastocytosis, with new reactions occurring in 4.8% of patients over four years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Wheat allergy dependent on augmentation factors (WALDA) is the most common gluten allergy in adults. IgE-mediated sensitizations are directed towards ω5-gliadin but also to other wheat allergens. The value of the different in vitro cellular tests, namely the basophil activation test (BAT) and the active (aBHRA) and passive basophil histamine-release assays (pBHRA), in the detection of sensitization profiles beyond ω5-gliadin has not been compared.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Certain laboratory abnormalities correlate with subvariants of systemic mastocytosis (SM) and are often prognostically relevant. To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of individual serum chemistry parameters in SM, 2607 patients enrolled within the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis and 575 patients enrolled within the German Registry on Eosinophils and Mast Cells were analyzed. For screening and diagnosis of SM, tryptase was identified as the most specific serum parameter.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) improves outcomes in melanoma patients, but associated T-cell activation frequently leads to immune-related cutaneous adverse events (cutAEs). To dynamically identify T-cell subtypes and immune signatures associated with cutAEs, a pilot study was performed in stage III-IV melanoma patients using blood samples for flow cytometry and cytokine analysis. Blood samples were taken from patients before initiation of ICI (naive), at the onset of a cutAE, and after 6 months of ICI treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Basophil activation test (BAT) with COVID-19 mRNA vaccine seems particularly suitable for detecting sensitization to polyethylene glycol (PEG) in patients with PEG allergy. It was the aim of this study to determine the cutoffs for BAT using BNT162B2 (Comirnaty®) in a larger group of PEG allergic patients and controls. 10 PEG allergic patients and 10 controls were studied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Cholinergic urticaria (CholU) is a common condition where symptoms like itchy hives arise from sweating, but existing treatments often fail to provide adequate control for patients.
  • In a phase IIa trial, the new oral medication izuforant was tested on adults with CholU who didn't respond well to traditional antihistamines.
  • Results showed that while izuforant did not significantly improve the primary measures of urticaria activity, it did lead to noticeable improvements in patient-reported severity assessments compared to placebo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Mastocytosis is characterized by an accumulation of clonal mast cells (MCs) in tissues such as the skin. Skin lesions in mastocytosis may be clinically subtle or heterogeneous, and giving the correct diagnosis can be difficult.

Methods: This study compiles personal experiences together with relevant literature, discussing possible obstacles encountered in diagnosing skin involvement in mastocytosis and cutaneous mastocytosis (CM).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In drug hypersensitivity, drug provocation testing (DPT), also called drug challenge, is the gold standard for investigation. In recent years, risk stratification has become an important tool for adjusting the diagnostic strategy to the perceived risk, whilst still maintaining a high level of safety for the patient. Skin tests are recommended before DPT but may be omitted in low-risk patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: EU Commission Regulation 2017/1410 prohibits using atranol and chloroatranol, the main allergens in Evernia prunastri (oakmoss), and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC) in cosmetic products. Oakmoss absolute is contained in fragrance mix (FM) I and HICC in FM II which are patch tested as screening mixtures in the baseline series.

Objective: To describe the time trends of reaction frequencies to both FMs as well as to their components in FM-positive patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are invaluable therapeutic options in a variety of dyspeptic diseases. In addition to their well-known risk profile, PPI consumption is related to food and environmental allergies, dysbiosis, osteoporosis, as well as immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). The latter, although a rare event, around 1%-3%, due to the extraordinarily high rate of prescription and consumption of PPIs are related to a substantial risk.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF