Systemic reactions to immunotherapy: influence of composition and manufacturer.

Background: Although immunotherapy clearly demonstrated the benefit of reducing allergic symptoms, it has the drawback of adverse events, mainly systemic reactions that could be very inconvenient for patients and even life-threatening.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence of systemic reactions to immunotherapy in a large number of patients, and its potential relationship with the characteristics of therapy, such as allergen composition or manufacturing laboratory.

Methods: This study analysed the administration of specific immunotherapy during a period of 5 years, involving 1212 patients affected by respiratory hypersensitivity or hymenoptera venom anaphylaxis.

Allergy to dermatophagoides in a group of Spanish gypsies: genetic restrictions.

Background: Spanish gypsies have traditionally lived as nomads, a reason why few epidemiological studies were done in this ethnic group. However, the high prevalence of asthmatic diseases demonstrated in a population residing in the North of Spain induces us to analyse whether it was due to the influence of genetic loci previously implicated in other population studies as causing the disorders.

Methods: DRB1* and DQB1* HLA class II, TCR-Valpha8.

Anisakis simplex, a relevant etiologic factor in acute urticaria.

Anisakis simplex, a parasite of fish and cephalopods, can induce IgE-mediated reactions. This study aimed to determine the etiologic role of A. simplex in patients affected by urticaria/angioedema (AE) or anaphylaxis.

The use of IgE immunoblotting as a diagnostic tool in Anisakis simplex allergy.

Background: The fish parasite Anisakis simplex is the etiologic agent of anisakiasis and induces IgE-mediated reactions. Skin prick tests (SPTs) and the measurement of specific IgE to A. simplex were, in our experience, not valid tools with which to discriminate between allergic and nonallergic patients because many control subjects also had positive results.