Publications by authors named "Wedi B"

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
  • Modern management of hereditary angioedema (HAE) emphasizes personalized treatment plans tailored to the needs of children and adolescents, as well as the severity of the disease.
  • New medications have improved quality of life for HAE patients, but not all are approved for children, leading to ongoing research into alternative treatments such as those targeting bradykinin effects.
  • Emerging options like oral medications, long-acting therapies, and potential gene therapy are being explored to better meet the care requirements for young patients with HAE type I and II.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are severe, drug-induced skin conditions that can be life-threatening and are now viewed as different levels of the same disease known as epidermal necrolysis (EN).
  • A new guideline has been created based on scientific literature and expert consensus to help medical professionals in diagnosing and treating EN.
  • This guideline targets various specialists like dermatologists and intensive care doctors, as well as informing patients, families, insurers, and policymakers about EN and includes recommendations for acute care and follow-up treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are serious, mostly drug-related conditions that affect the skin and mucous membranes, categorized under the umbrella term epidermal necrolysis (EN), which varies in severity.* -
  • A new guideline for diagnosing and treating SJS/TEN was created based on extensive scientific research and consensus among experts, involving various medical specialties to provide a comprehensive approach to patient care.* -
  • The guideline is designed for healthcare professionals across multiple fields, as well as patients, their families, insurers, and policymakers, with the first part specifically addressing diagnosis, initial treatment, and systemic immunotherapy.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) poses significant challenges, especially in pediatric and adolescent patients, impacting physical, emotional, and social well-being. Recent biologic breakthroughs offer promise, however, data on safety and efficacy in this population remain limited.

Areas Covered: This review examines current biologic treatments in pediatrics and adolescents with CSU and explores the rapidly emerging landscape.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

International guidelines for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria support the updosing of second-generation antihistamines to four times of the approved dose when adequate symptom control cannot be achieved with the standard dosage. However, this recommendation is primarily based on expert opinions, and there is a lack of large, well-designed, double-blind clinical trials. Most the existing trials provide insufficient data, and due to the heterogeneity of the conducted trials on antihistamine effects (definition of control, design, quality, lack of an active comparator, no placebo arm, small sample size, outcomes) and their short duration, comparative analysis is challenging.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Angioedema is a serious reaction linked to ACE inhibitors, and its causes include genetic and non-genetic factors; recent studies have begun to uncover genetic risk factors but not the full underlying mechanisms.!* -
  • Researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 European patients, discovering three significant genetic risk loci associated with ACEi-induced angioedema, one of which has not been previously noted.!* -
  • The findings underscored the role of bradykinin signaling and coagulation pathways while suggesting new genetic candidates involved in angioedema, highlighting similar genetic effects in both European and African-American patients.!*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A roundtable discussion on February 10, 2023 between the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI) and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) aimed to discuss in detail current aspects of allergen immunotherapy (AIT), its regulatory framework under the transitional provision of the Therapy Allergen Ordinance (TAO), and the consequences for the planned guideline work of the DGAKI, regulatory challenges in the approval of AIT products for children and adolescents as well as allergy diagnostics. The content and discussion points of this dialogue are summarized and are set in context with the current literature.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Chronic urticaria (CU), including chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), is a prevalent, enduring, mast-cell driven condition that presents challenges in its management. There is a clear need for additional approved treatment options beyond H1 receptor antagonists and the anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (mAb), omalizumab. One of the latest therapeutic strategies targets KIT, which is considered the primary master regulator for mast cell-related disorders.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Hymenoptera venom (HV), injected by bees and wasps during stings, can cause allergic reactions in about 3% of people, leading to severe local or systemic allergic reactions in some cases.
  • The guidelines suggest that while symptomatic therapy is needed after a severe local reaction, specific allergen immunotherapy isn't necessary unless severe reactions occur beyond the skin.
  • Clinicians should assess patients for risk factors, measure tryptase levels if reactions are significant, and test for specific IgE antibodies to diagnose sensitization to Hymenoptera venom.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Anaphylaxis is a serious systemic reaction-data on fatal and near-fatal reactions are limited.

Objective: To better understand clinical patterns and risks factors of severe anaphylaxis by a deep analysis of data from fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis.

Methods: Data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry on fatal/near-fatal anaphylactic reactions and national data on anaphylaxis fatalities were investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Since more than a century ago, there has been awareness of the connection between viral infections and the onset and exacerbation of urticaria. Our knowledge about the role of viral infection and vaccination in acute and chronic urticaria improved as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but it has also highlighted knowledge gaps. Viral infections, especially respiratory tract infections like COVID-19, can trigger the onset of acute urticaria (AU) and the exacerbation of chronic urticaria (CU).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Allergic medical care in Germany is organized on an interdisciplinary basis. An overview of the current care situation is necessary to manage and improve interdisciplinary cooperation.

Methods: Between January and February 2022, questionnaires were sent online and by mail to chief physicians of inpatient clinical departments to which most allergological diseases are assigned (dermatology, otorhinolaryngology [ENT], pulmonology, pediatrics, environmental/occupational medicine, gastroenterology; n = 899).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Allergic diseases represent a broad spectrum of high-prevalence, chronic conditions that remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. The aims of this interdisciplinary, questionnaire-based, non-interventional study were to identify and analyze potential barriers to clinical allergological care in Germany.

Methods: All hospitals listed in the German hospital register involved in the treatment of allergological patients (n = 899) were invited to participate.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This publication is the second part of the German-language S3 guideline on urticaria. It covers the management of urticaria and should be used together with Part 1 of the guideline on classification and diagnosis. This publication was prepared according to the criteria of the AWMF on the basis of the international English-language S3 guideline with special consideration of health system conditions in German-speaking countries.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * The guideline's first section focuses on the classification and diagnosis of urticaria, highlighting new research on its causes and how to diagnose its various subtypes.
  • * It differentiates between types of urticaria, emphasizing the importance of medical history and specific tests for an accurate diagnosis, and includes tools to measure disease severity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting IgE, has been approved in 2014 for the treatment of H1 antihistamine-refractory chronic urticaria. Data on long-term effectiveness and predictive factors for treatment response are currently limited. In this monocentric, prospective, observational study, 112 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and 32 patients with chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF