Publications by authors named "R K Bent"

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.

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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.

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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).

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Article Synopsis
  • Histamine intolerance (HIT) is often diagnosed in patients with unexplained symptoms, but a study aimed to confirm or exclude it through a controlled histamine challenge involving 59 patients.
  • Most participants were middle-aged women; while many reported symptom improvement on a low-histamine diet, the study found that only a small percentage truly had HIT, with only a few experiencing symptoms specifically after histamine exposure.
  • Results indicated that while certain gastrointestinal symptoms and lower DAO levels may suggest HIT, their reliability as diagnostic markers is limited, highlighting the need for controlled challenges due to the frequent placebo effects observed.
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