Severity and duration of allergic conjunctivitis: are they associated with severity and duration of allergic rhinitis and asthma?

The association of allergic conjunctivitis (AC) with rhinitis and/or asthma is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to apply the Consensus Document for Allergic Conjunctivitis (DECA) criteria for the classification of AC to a population of patients with AC to assess the association between the severity and duration of AC and rhinitis and/or asthma. Patients with ocular symptoms of AC who participated in the 'Alergológica 2015' study were included.

[Allergy to vegetables belonging to the Solanaceae family].

Background: Although cross-reactivity with other plant-based foods and latex has been described, allergies to potatoes and tomatoes are uncommon.

Objective: To study the different sensitization patterns in patients who are allergic to potatoes and/or tomatoes.

Methods: Skin prick tests were carried out with fresh foods and extracts, specific IgE determination and allergen detection by SDS-PAGE and IgE-Immunoblotting with both raw and heated potato and tomato extracts.

[Delayed allergic reaction to furosemide with a positive lymphocyte transformation test].

Background: Furosemide is the most commonly prescribed loop diuretic worldwide. Although, its extended use, furosemide rarely induces allergic reactions. Until 2013, only 49 cases of furosemide allergy had been described.

Position paper on nasal obstruction: evaluation and treatment.

Nasal obstruction (NO) is defined as the subjective perception of discomfort or difficulty in the passage of air through the nostrils. It is a common reason for consultation in primary and specialized care and may affect up to 30%-40% of the population. It affects quality of life (especially sleep) and lowers work efficiency.

[Delayed allergic reaction to amlodipine with a positive lymphocyte transformation test].

Background: Amlodipine is one of the third generation dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers used for hypertension. Mild, moderate and severe reactions have been reported with calcium channel blockers. Cross-reactivity among these drugs has not been established.

Estimate of the total costs of allergic rhinitis in specialized care based on real-world data: the FERIN Study.

Background: Despite the socioeconomic importance of allergic rhinitis (AR), very few prospective studies have been performed under conditions of clinical practice and with a sufficiently long observation period outside the clinical trial scenario. We prospectively estimated the direct and indirect costs of AR in patients attending specialized clinics in Spain.

Methods: Patients were recruited at random from allergy outpatient clinics in 101 health centers throughout Spain over 12 months.

Nasal Hyperreactivity: Nonspecific Nasal Provocation Tests. Review by the Rhinoconjunctivitis Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Nasal hyperreactivity is the abnormal reaction of nasal tissue to a stimulus that is innocuous to most people. This response is caused by dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system at various levels of the nasal autonomic reflex arc. Various stimuli (methacholine, histamine, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, cold air, mannitol, rapsaicin, phentolamine, and distilled water) have been used in an attempt to find the test that most reliably differentiates between healthy individuals and patients and also between different types of rhinitis.

Relationship between respiratory and food allergy and evaluation of preventive measures.

Food allergy and respiratory allergy are two frequently associated diseases and with an increasing prevalence. Several reports show the presence of respiratory symptoms in patients with food allergy, while certain foods may be related to the development or exacerbation of allergic rhinitis and asthma. The present update focuses on this relationship, revealing a pathogenic and clinical association between food and respiratory allergy.

Clinical Management and Use of Health Care Resources in the Treatment of Nasal Polyposis in Spanish Allergy Centers: The POLAR Study.

Background: Nasal polyposis (NP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that constitutes a major health problem with significant comorbidities and a considerable associated socioeconomic burden.

Objective: To describe the clinical features and management of patients with NP attending Spanish allergy centers, the use of health care resources, and the degree of compliance with the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations of the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS).

Methods: We performed a multicenter, observational, and cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 671 patients consulting for NP in 67 Spanish allergy departments.

Consensus document on allergic conjunctivitis (DECA).

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is an inflammatory disease of the conjunctiva caused mainly by an IgE-mediated mechanism. It is the most common type of ocular allergy. Despite being the most benign form of conjunctivitis, AC has a considerable effect on patient quality of life, reduces work productivity, and increases health care costs.

Relationships between T cell and IgE/IgG4 epitopes of the Anisakis simplex major allergen Ani s 1.

Background: Anisakiasis is a global disease caused by the consumption of raw or lightly cooked fish parasitized with third-stage Anisakis larvae. Anisakis simplex allergens may cause severe allergic reactions including angio-oedema, urticaria and anaphylaxis. Approximately 80% of allergic patients have allergen-specific IgE against Ani s 1, and the diagnostic value of testing for antibodies to Ani s 1 has been extensively demonstrated.

Cross-reactivity between Anisakis spp. and wasp venom allergens.

Background: Anisakiasis is caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked fish or cephalopods parasitized by live L3 larvae of nematode Anisakis spp. Larvae anchor to stomach mucosa releasing excretion/secretion products which contain the main allergens. It has been described that nematode larvae release venom allergen-like proteins among their excretion/secretion products.