Safety of sublingual immunotherapy in children with asthma.

Introduction: Two previously published studies on sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) did not report any serious adverse event associated with the local therapy; however, adverse events were observed in greatly variable percentages. The aim of the study was to evaluate the tolerability profile of sublingual swallow and spit immunotherapy in a large number of children treated for allergic asthma.

Methods: Adverse effects related to sublingual administration of allergen vaccines were evaluated in 354 children with allergic asthma.

Skin reactivity to histamine and to allergens in unselected 9-year-old children living in Poland and Italy.

Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of positive skin-prick tests to airborne allergens in Western than in Eastern European countries. We have recently reported that skin histamine reactivity significantly increased in Italy over the past 15 years. Population differences in skin histamine reactivity could, at least in part, explain the reported differences in positive allergen skin tests.

Changes in inflammatory and clinical parameters and in bronchial hyperreactivity asthmatic children sensitized to house dust mites following sublingual immunotherapy.

Unlabelled: In allergic patients with rhinoconjunctivitis (RNC), sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is effective in reducing both clinical symptoms and immuno-mediated local inflammatory responses. The study evaluates whether SLIT could reduce upper airway inflammation and improve clinical parameters also in children with rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma from house dust mite sensitization. Ten children with mild to intermittent asthma, monosensitized to house dust mites, received SLIT (Der p 1 monthly dose = 48 microg) for 2 years, in addition to "as needed" pharmacologic treatment.

Efficacy of dry-cleaning in removing Fel d 1 allergen from wool fabric exposed to cats.

Background: The main cat allergen (Fel d 1) is ubiquitous, having been found even in indoor environments and public places where a cat has never been kept. Clothes of cat owners constitute a carrier for the distribution of Fel d 1 allergen in these environments. Schools, for example, may be a site of indirect exposure to cat allergens.