Dupilumab as an Adjunct to Oral Immunotherapy in Pediatric Patients With Peanut Allergy.

Background: Peanut allergy is a common, life-threatening food allergy in children. We evaluated whether dupilumab, which blocks the activity of interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13, enhances the efficacy of oral immunotherapy (OIT) AR101 in pediatric patients with peanut allergy.

Methods: A Phase II, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study was conducted in the USA (NCT03682770) in pediatric patients (6-≤ 17 years old) with confirmed peanut allergy.

Reduced Effectiveness of Anti-IgE Treatment Among Adults with Severe Asthma with Older Age of Asthma Onset: Results from the CHRONICLE Study.

Purpose: Younger age of asthma onset (AAO) has been associated with an allergic phenotype, whereas eosinophilic phenotypes have been associated with older AAO. In randomized trials, biologic efficacy among adults with severe asthma (SA) has varied by age at asthma onset. To determine whether these associations observed in trials apply to real-world outcomes, this study examined biologic effectiveness by AAO and biologic class in a large, real-world cohort.

Immune response evolution in peanut epicutaneous immunotherapy for peanut-allergic children.

Background: Epicutaneous immunotherapy with investigational Viaskin™ Peanut 250 μg (DBV712) has demonstrated statistically superior desensitization versus placebo in peanut-allergic children in clinical trials. It is unclear whether serologic biomarkers predict response.

Methods: Serum-specific IgG4 and IgE (whole peanut and components) from subjects enrolled in the phase 3 Efficacy and Safety of Viaskin Peanut in Children With IgE-Mediated Peanut Allergy study were examined by exploratory univariate and multivariate analyses to determine trajectories and predictors of treatment response, based upon peanut protein eliciting dose (ED) at Month (M) 12 double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge.

Immunogenicity of Botulinum Toxin Formulations: Potential Therapeutic Implications.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are proteins produced by bacteria of the Clostridium family. Upon oral ingestion, BoNT causes the neuroparalytic syndrome botulism. There are seven serotypes of BoNT (serotypes A-G); BoNT-A and BoNT-B are the botulinum toxin serotypes utilized for therapeutic applications.

Differing perceptions of asthma control and treatment effectiveness by patients with severe asthma and treating subspecialists in the United States.

Objective: For patients with severe asthma (SA), overestimation of asthma control may lead to poorer outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess concurrent patient and specialist assessments of asthma control and treatment effectiveness among a large US cohort of SA patients.

Methods: CHRONICLE is an ongoing observational study of patients with SA treated by US subspecialists.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Productivity Among US Patients with Severe Asthma.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and productivity of patients with confirmed severe asthma (SA) have not been well characterized in large, real-world populations.

Purpose: To characterize SA impact on HRQoL, work productivity, and activity impairment in a large, real-world cohort in the United States (US).

Methods: CHRONICLE is an observational study of specialist-treated adults (≥18 years) in the US with SA receiving biologics or maintenance systemic corticosteroids (mSCS), or those persistently uncontrolled by high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids with additional controllers (HD ICS+).

The CHRONICLE Study of US Adults with Subspecialist-Treated Severe Asthma: Objectives, Design, and Initial Results.

Background: Approximately 5-10% of patients with asthma have severe disease. High-quality real-world studies are needed to identify areas for improved management.

Objective: Aligned with the International Severe Asthma Registry, the CHRONICLE study (ClinicalTrials.

Effect of intravenously administered reslizumab on spirometric lung age in patients with moderate-to-severe eosinophilic asthma.

Spirometric lung age expresses lung function relative to chronological age. It has been effective in encouraging smoking cessation and has been used in the assessment of asthma. Reslizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, is approved as add-on therapy for adults with severe asthma and elevated blood eosinophils.

AR101 Oral Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy.

Background: Peanut allergy, for which there are no approved treatment options, affects patients who are at risk for unpredictable and occasionally life-threatening allergic reactions.

Methods: In a phase 3 trial, we screened participants 4 to 55 years of age with peanut allergy for allergic dose-limiting symptoms at a challenge dose of 100 mg or less of peanut protein (approximately one third of a peanut kernel) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. Participants with an allergic response were randomly assigned, in a 3:1 ratio, to receive AR101 (a peanut-derived investigational biologic oral immunotherapy drug) or placebo in an escalating-dose program.

Bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution 1.5% for alleviating nasal symptoms in patients with allergic conjunctivitis.

Background: Bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution (BBOS) 1.5% is a topical antihistamine for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis (AC). Allergic rhinitis and AC are common comorbid conditions.

Management of allergic rhinitis in the era of effective over-the-counter treatments.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) may be regarded as a trivial issue unworthy of the doctor's time, and with the availability of many different over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, up to two thirds of patients self-manage AR before seeking medical care. Yet, AR can have a significant impact on health-related quality of life and is associated with a greater detriment to work productivity than other chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. For many patients, the impact on quality of life is greater than suggested by reported symptoms and should also be a focus of treatment.

Inhaled corticosteroids: Ocular safety and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) effectively deliver corticosteroids to target sites in the lungs and reduce systemic effects compared with oral corticosteroids, but long-term systemic exposure from inhaled corticosteroids remains a concern.

Objective: To discuss ICS systemic effects on the eye and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Methods: Relevant publications were used to augment discussion.

New therapeutic options for allergic rhinitis: back to the future with intranasal corticosteroid aerosols.

Background: Under current guidelines, intranasal corticosteroids (INSs) are considered the most effective first-line therapy to improve allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms and burden of disease. In the late 1980s-1990s, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-propelled corticosteroid aerosol nasal sprays formed the standard of care for the treatment of AR. Because of environmental concerns, CFC aerosols were gradually phased out, and aqueous INS formulations of nasal sprays became the standard of care.

Topical calcineurin inhibitors for atopic dermatitis: review and treatment recommendations.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease commonly affecting children and managed by pediatricians, primary care physicians, allergists, and dermatologists alike. For many years, the only available topical pharmacological treatment was topical corticosteroids. This changed in 2000-2001, when topical formulations of two calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus and pimecrolimus) were approved for short-term or chronic intermittent treatment of AD in patients ≥ 2 years of age, in whom other treatments have been ineffective or contraindicated.

Efficacy of bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution 1.5% for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: a randomized, placebo-controlled, natural exposure, clinical trial.

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) affects an estimated 20% of the population in the Western world, with a large fraction suffering due to seasonal or perennial allergen exposures. Bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution (BBOS) 1.5%, a dual-acting histamine (H(1)) receptor antagonist and mast cell stabilizer, is indicated for itching associated with AC.

Comparison of intranasal azelastine to intranasal fluticasone propionate for symptom control in moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Intranasal corticosteroids are considered the most effective therapy for moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and recommended first line in guidelines. It is uncertain whether intranasal antihistamines have comparable efficacy. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of azelastine (AZE; 137 μg/spray) and fluticasone propionate (FP; 50 μg/spray), both given as 1 spray/nostril bid (i.

Management of allergic conjunctivitis: an evaluation of the perceived comfort and therapeutic efficacy of olopatadine 0.2% and azelastine 0.05% from two prospective studies.

Purpose: Results from 2 patient-reported outcome studies of allergic conjunctivitis sufferers who used olopatadine 0.2% and azelastine 0.05% are analyzed.

Half- vs full-dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (2004-2005): age, dose, and sex effects on immune responses.

Background: Optimal public health strategies for managing influenza vaccine shortages are not yet defined. Our objective was to determine the effects of age, sex, and dose on the immunogenicity of intramuscular trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV).

Methods: Healthy adults aged 18 to 64 years, stratified by age (18-49 and 50-64 years) and sex, were randomized to receive full- or half-dose TIV.

Managing rhinitis: Strategies for improved patient outcomes.

Allergic rhinitis affects more than 40 million Americans, with estimated costs reaching $5.3 billion annually. The global impact includes negative effects on quality of life (QOL), sleep, diminished work productivity, and exacerbation of comorbid conditions.

Pediatric allergic rhinitis: current and future state of the art.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common cause of allergic disease in the pediatric population. This chronic condition impacts quality of life, exacerbates comorbid conditions, and results in a significant economic burden. With an accurate diagnosis, there are many available therapies to reduce the burden of AR.

A comparison of two single-headed and two multi-headed allergen skin test devices.

Given the potential differences in performance of skin test devices, the purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the performance of two single-headed and two multiheaded devices for allergy skin testing in terms of wheal size, sensitivity, specificity, intradevice variability, and pain level. Two single-headed devices (Greer Pick, Duotip-Test) and two multiheaded devices (Multi-Test II, OMNI) were tested in 15 subjects in a prospective partially blind fashion looking at wheal reactions and pain using histamine and glycerol-saline on the arms and back. Differences among devices in wheal size and pain were noted.

Improvements in skin-testing technique.

Allergy skin testing is the primary modality used in the diagnosis of allergic diseases and guides development of treatment and avoidance plans. The goal of the Allergist is to skin test the appropriate population with a device and technique that minimizes pain while maximizing sensitivity and specificity. The debate involving the use of intradermal versus skin-prick testing in the diagnosis of aeroallergy has been long lasting.

A 34-year-old man with chronic itching and peripheral and submucosal eosinophilia.

A 34-year-old man with peripheral eosinophilia, chronic pruritus, and colonic eosinophilic infiltration is presented as a patient-oriented problem-solving case report to show the important aspects of differential and specific diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and caveats in the approach to the workup of the patient with eosinophilia. Allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopy, and drug-induced eosinophilia should come to mind in the initial differential diagnosis of any patient with peripheral eosinophilia. Also included in the differential after allergic disease processes would be the general categories of infectious, neoplastic, and the various forms of organ-specific eosinophilic infiltration and idiopathic syndromes.

Anaphylaxis and epinephrine prescribing patterns in a military hospital: underutilization of the intramuscular route.

Epinephrine is the only definitive treatment of anaphylaxis, and recent evidence suggests that the intramuscular route has superior pharmacokinetics to subcutaneous administration. There is little data regarding what route is commonly used in clinical practice. The objective of this article is to determine the rate of epinephrine use in cases of anaphylaxis and route of administration utilized.