Publications by authors named "Margitta Worm"

Hazelnuts are frequently involved in IgE-mediated reactions and are the main cause of nut allergies in Europe. Most food products are processed before human consumption. Food processing can modify the structure, properties, and function of proteins, and as a result, the IgE-binding capacity of allergens can be affected.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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
Article Synopsis
  • Targeted therapies using biologics for atopic diseases, urticaria, and angioedema are advancing quickly, with several new antibodies developed, tested, and approved for clinical use, like omalizumab and dupilumab.
  • There is ongoing research into combining different biologics for enhanced treatment efficacy, expanding their applications to conditions like food allergies and eosinophilic esophagitis.
  • There are emerging concerns about unexpected side effects and hypersensitivity reactions associated with these therapies, raising important questions about their safety and mechanisms, particularly in specific patient groups like children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • IgE-mediated food allergies are the most common type, causing quick and serious reactions that affect patients' and caregivers' lives.
  • Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to IgE, reducing allergic reactions, and has been approved by the FDA for treating these food allergies.
  • The GALEN ANACARE Consensus Statement supports omalizumab's use based on a systematic review and expert agreement, noting it is currently the only drug that can significantly reduce IgE-mediated food allergic reactions, although more evidence is needed for stronger guideline recommendations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guideline provides recommendations for the management of IgE-mediated food allergy and was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Following the confirmation of IgE-mediated food allergy diagnosis, allergen avoidance and dietary advice (with support of a specialised dietitian, if possible) together with the provision of a written treatment plan, education on the recognition of allergic symptoms and prescription of medication including adrenaline using an auto-injector are essential. Patients with significant anxiety and requirement for coping strategies may benefit from support from a clinical psychologist.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

(1) Background: The basophil activation test (BAT) is a functional whole blood-based ex vivo assay to quantify basophil activation after allergen exposure by flow cytometry. One of the most important prerequisites for the use of the BAT in the routine clinical diagnosis of allergies is a reliable, standardized and reproducible data analysis workflow. (2) Methods: We re-analyzed a public mass cytometry dataset from peanut (PN) allergic patients ( = 6) and healthy controls ( = 3) with our binning approach "attern ecognition of mmune cells" (PRI).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Hymenoptera venom is one of the most frequent causes of anaphylaxis. Studies from adults indicate the clinical profiles and risk factors of Hymenoptera venom-induced anaphylaxis (VIA). Much less is known about pediatric VIA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a proinflammatory alarmin cytokine released by damaged epithelial tissue cells that initiates and amplifies both type 1 and type 2 inflammatory cascades. A role for IL-33 in atopic dermatitis (AD; a chronic, relapsing type 2 inflammatory disease of the skin) has been proposed. Itepekimab is a novel human IgG4P monoclonal antibody against IL-33, currently in clinical development for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Interdisciplinary medical treatment is required to care for patients with complex autoimmune diseases. Although there are an increasing number of interdisciplinary centers for autoimmune diseases in Germany, they are not yet available throughout the country and the focuses and interdisciplinary structures are not organized according to a generally agreed standard. Furthermore, they are not regularly reflected in the general care structure.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The 300IR house dust mite (HDM) sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet is approved for treating allergic rhinitis caused by dust mites, and a comprehensive review was conducted on its safety based on clinical trial and post-marketing data.
  • In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 1,853 subjects received the 300IR HDM-SLIT tablet, showing mainly mild to moderate adverse events, particularly at the beginning of treatment, with no reported cases of anaphylaxis.
  • Over 7 years of real-world data corroborated the favorable safety profile of the 300IR HDM-SLIT tablet across various age groups and asthma statuses, with rare severe reactions noted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Permanent tattooing is the invasive introduction of tattoo ink (pigments) into the dermis. The ink and aftercare cosmetics applied on pre-damaged skin may contain skin sensitisers.

Objectives: To identify patient characteristics and the pattern of sensitisation in tattooed patients patch tested within the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The traditional healthcare approach often overlooks patients' personal experiences and strengths, focusing mainly on disease treatment. Person-centered care aims to align medical decisions with individual values and preferences, particularly for those with chronic conditions.
  • - This paper seeks to enhance care for rhinitis and asthma by developing digital care pathways and incorporating real-world evidence to create a more patient-centered approach.
  • - Key components of the review include advancements in mHealth, the integration of artificial intelligence, a novel classification system for airway diseases, and proposals for the ARIA 2024 guidelines, all targeting a sustainable and applicable healthcare model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Factors such as exercise, stress, certain medical conditions, and previous allergic reactions can increase the risk of severe anaphylaxis outcomes, emphasizing the need for awareness and preparedness.
  • * The article discusses potential biomarkers for diagnosing and managing anaphylaxis, highlighting the importance of expert guidance for better patient outcomes and self-management strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this review, we compare different refractory anaphylaxis (RA) management guidelines focusing on cardiovascular involvement and best practice recommendations, discuss postulated pathogenic mechanisms underlining RA and highlight knowledge gaps and research priorities. There is a paucity of data supporting existing management guidelines. Therapeutic recommendations include the need for the timely administration of appropriate doses of aggressive fluid resuscitation and intravenous (IV) adrenaline in RA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Children with sensitization against foods have to be orally food-challenged before eating these foods for the first time. However, the waiting time for an oral food challenge (OFC) in Germany is about 3-6 months. In contrast, there are hints that an early introduction of allergenic foods might be protective regarding the development of food allergy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The term 'sclerosing diseases of the skin' comprises specific dermatological entities, which have fibrotic changes of the skin in common. These diseases mostly manifest in different clinical subtypes according to cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from each other. The present consensus provides an update to the 2017 European Dermatology Forum Guidelines, focusing on characteristic clinical and histopathological features, diagnostic scores and the serum autoantibodies most useful for differential diagnosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune skin disease causing significant suffering and reduced quality of life, currently managed with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants that have unwanted side effects.
  • A clinical trial named LIBERTY-BP ADEPT is underway to investigate the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab, a drug that targets type 2 inflammation, in treating adults with moderate-to-severe BP.
  • The trial includes a 52-week treatment period for 98 adults, focusing on achieving steroid-free remission and other key outcomes such as itch reduction and disease severity over time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The updated S2k guideline deals with the diagnosis and therapy of localized scleroderma (LoS). LoS represents a spectrum of sclerotic skin diseases in which, depending on the subtype and localisation, structures such as adipose tissue, muscles, joints, and bones may also be affected. Involvement of internal organs or progression to systemic sclerosis does not occur.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF