Benefits of antifungal therapy in asthma patients with airway mycosis: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Introduction: Fungal airway infection (airway mycosis) is increasingly recognized as a cause of asthma and related disorders. However, prior controlled studies of patients treated with antifungal antibiotics have produced conflicting results. Our objective is to measure the effect of antifungal therapy in moderate to severe adult asthmatics with positive fungal sputum cultures in a single center referral-based academic practice.

Airway surface mycosis in chronic TH2-associated airway disease.

Background: Environmental fungi have been linked to TH2 cell-related airway inflammation and the TH2-associated chronic airway diseases asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), but whether these organisms participate directly or indirectly in disease pathology remains unknown.

Objective: To determine the frequency of fungus isolation and fungus-specific immunity in patients with TH2-associated and non-TH2-associated airway disease.

Methods: Sinus lavage fluid and blood were collected from sinus surgery patients (n = 118) including patients with CRSwNP, patients with CRS without nasal polyps, patients with AFRS, and non-CRS/nonasthmatic control patients.

Hypereosinophilia associated with echinacea use.

Echinacea, believed by herbal practitioners to enhance the immune system, is one of the most widely used herbal supplements in the United States. Like most herbal products, it lacks strict FDA regulation and more information is needed about its potential adverse reactions. Here, we report the case of a patient with eosinophilia of unclear etiology whose condition resolved after cessation of this supplement.

Delayed diagnosis of hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare and potentially fatal disease that is important to recognize early. It is usually associated with low levels or impaired function of C1 inhibitor, which is involved in several inflammatory pathways. The treatment of HAE is very different from other causes of angioedema, emphasizing the importance of early and accurate diagnosis.

Rebound of psoriasis after efalizumab discontinuation, despite being on high-dose cyclosporine.

Psoriasis rebound after efalizumab discontinuation is well-documented in the literature. We report the case of a patient who experienced psoriasis rebound 2 months after efalizumab discontinuation, despite being on more than 5 mg/kg/day of cyclosporine. This case illustrates an instance where high doses of a very efficacious antipsoriasis therapy were not sufficient to prevent efalizumab-associated rebound.