Immunotherapy in allergic respiratory diseases

Much more work is needed to specify the correct indications for immunotherapy in respiratory allergic diseases. Immunotherapy with pollen and mite extracts has shown some clinical efficacy versus placebo in controlled studies in allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. However, controlled studies comparing the cost, the risk factors and the efficacy of immunotherapy versus treatment with antihistaminic drugs, bronchodilatators and topical steroids are needed. Additional studies are needed to established the place of immunotherapy in animal danders and mould allergy. In any case, before initiating immunotherapy in respiratory allergy the following questions must be answered: is there sufficient evidence of a close relationship between symptoms and allergen exposure? is it possible to achieve efficient allergen avoidance? is simple drug treatment not sufficient? is there evidence in the literature of effectiveness of IT for this allergen? is the patient able to comply with a long and constraining treatment?     

广州地区儿童呼吸道变态反应性疾病常见变应原的流行病学分析

目的 了解广州地区呼吸道变态反应性疾病儿童常见变应原,为预防和治疗儿童变应性疾病提供科学依据.方法 选择2006年2月至2007年3月在广州医学院第一附属医院儿科门诊符合支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)和(或)变应性鼻炎(简称鼻炎)的广州地区5岁以上患儿183例,其中男132例,年龄(8.2-4-0.2)岁;女51例,年龄(7.8士0.4)岁;哮喘并鼻炎者105例,哮喘患儿58例,仅鼻炎患儿20例.所有对象均进行皮肤变应原点刺试验(SPT)及血清总IgE、特异性IgE和嗜酸粒细胞计数.结果 在人选的183例患儿中,SPT阳性(≥1个变应原阳性)157例(85.8%),各变应原阳性率为5.5%～75.4%,变应原中以屋尘螨致敏的阳性率最高,达79.8%,其次为粉尘螨与热带螨,分别为72.7%与65.0%,其余变应原阳性率依次为:狗毛48.6%,美洲大蠊47.0%,猫毛34.4%,德国小蠊29.5%,霉菌类19.7%,花粉类15.9%,艾蒿7.7%,豚草5.5%.螨过敏阳性患儿有146例,常合并其他一种或多种变应原阳性(115例,78.8%),而螨过敏阴性患儿(37例,20.2%)中仅有11例(29.7%)合并其他一种或多种变应原阳性(x2=33.099,P<0.001),差异有统计学意义.各年龄组发病率特点:高龄组(>7岁)SPT阳性率为82.3%,高于低龄组(≤7岁)(79.3%),两组间SPT阳性率的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).在吸入变应原种类的比较中,高龄组在螨类过敏阳性率、猫毛与狗毛阳性率、蟑螂阳性率均高于低龄组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组在霉菌类及花草类阳性率的差异无统计学意义.哮喘并鼻炎、哮喘、鼻炎3组患儿均以螨类过敏最为常见,3组间除蟑螂SPT阳性率差异有统计学意义外(P<0.05),螨类、动物皮毛类、霉菌及花草类的变应原阳性率差异均无统计学意义.结论 过敏性因素是儿童呼吸系统变态反应性疾病发病的重要诱发因素,在广州地区哮喘和(或)鼻炎儿童可以通过SPT检查明确过敏原,最常见的变应原是屋尘螨、粉尘螨及热带螨.随着年龄增长,呼吸道变态反应性疾病患儿对吸入性变应原更为敏感.鼻炎、哮喘、哮喘并鼻炎患儿有共同的变应原.研究不同年龄段变态反应性疾病患者的变应原特征,有助于对疾病的早期诊断和早期干预.     

广州地区儿童呼吸道变态反应性疾病常见变应原的流行病学分析

目的了解广州地区呼吸道变态反应性疾病儿童常见变应原,为预防和治疗儿童变应性疾病提供科学依据。方法选择2006年2月至2007年3月在广州医学院第一附属医院儿科门诊符合支气管哮喘（简称哮喘）和（或）变应性鼻炎（简称鼻炎）的广州地区5岁以上患儿183例,其中男132例,年龄（8．2±0．2）岁;女51例,年龄（7．8±0．4）岁;哮喘并鼻炎者105例,哮喘患儿58例,仅鼻炎患儿20例。所有对象均进行皮肤变应原点刺试验（SPT）及血清总IgE、特异性IgE和嗜酸粒细胞计数。结果在入选的183例患儿中．SPT阳性（≥1个变应原阳性）157例（85．8％）,各变应原阳性率为5．5％～75．4％,变应原中以屋尘螨致敏的阳性率最高,达79．8％,其次为粉尘螨与热带螨,分别为72．7％与65．0％,其余变应原阳性率依次为：狗毛48．6％,美洲大蠊47．0％,猫毛34．4％．德国小蠊29．5％,霉菌类19．7％,花粉类15．9％,艾蒿7．7％,豚草5．5％。螨过敏阳性患儿有146例,常合并其他一种或多种变应原阳性（115例,78．8％）,而螨过敏阴性患儿（37例,20．2％）中仅有11例（29．7％）合并其他一种或多种变应原阳性（X2=33．099,P〈0．001）,差异有统计学意义。各年龄组发病率特点：高龄组（〉7岁）SPT阳性率为82．3％,高于低龄组（≤7岁）（79．3％）,两组间SPT阳性率的差异有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。在吸入变应原种类的比较中,高龄组在螨类过敏阳性率、猫毛与狗毛阳性率、蟑螂阳性率均高于低龄组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;两组在霉菌类及花草类阳性率的差异无统计学意义。哮喘并鼻炎、哮喘、鼻炎3组患儿均以螨类过敏最为常见,3组间除蟑螂SPT阳性率差异有统计学意义外（P〈0．05）,螨类、动物皮毛类、霉菌及花草类的变应原阳性率差异均无?     

Prevalence of oral allergy syndrome in children with allergic diseases

IntroductionThe oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a particular type of food allergy rarely explored in the paediatric population that is already considered an adult problem.ObjectiveIdentify the prevalence of OAS, symptoms and pollen species associated with its presence in children affected by allergic diseases.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted. Consecutive sampling included children from 6 to 14 years who needed allergy treatment for the first time. A structured questionnaire was carried out to collect demographic and clinical data and history of OAS. Besides sensitisation to various allergens, the skin prick-by-prick test was performed to corroborate sensitisation to food related to OAS. Prevalence of OAS and its association with pollens was established following the covariate adjusted logistic regression.Results267 subjects were included. Overall prevalence of OAS was 8.9% (95%CI 6.1–13.1%). Prevalence of OAS for allergic rhinitis and asthma were 8.8% and 9.1%, respectively. In patients sensitised to pollen, the prevalence ranged from 9.6% to 12.2% depending on the type of pollen. 62.5% of children with OAS were sensitive to pineapple. After adjusting for gender and family history of atopic disease, trees from the Quercus species showed an association with OAS (OR = 2.7, 95%CI 1.2–6.2).ConclusionsOAS is not uncommon in our environment. Pineapple, a typical fruit from the region, was the main food related. Quercus sp., but not birch nor olive, was the pollen associated with this syndrome.     

Heterogeneity of immune responses to various Aspergillus species in patients with allergic respiratory diseases

In the present study, allergenic significance of thirteen species of Aspergillus and their allergenic and antigenic relationship was studied. Of the 3025 ID tests performed with the 13 species of Aspergillus on 289 patients suffering with allergic respiratory diseases, 627 (20.7%) were positive (1+ to 4+), 386 (12.8%) being significantly positive (2+ to 4+) . Of the 64 patients eliciting a positive cutaneous response to at least one species, 42(65.6%) were positive to 5 or less number of species while others showed a broad spectrum of positive skin reactivity to different Aspergillus extracts. In RAST inhibition assays using pooled sera ofpatients sensitive to A. tamarii dose related inhibition was produced by homologous as well as 5 of the 12 heterologous species. Similarly, in A. terreus RAST inhibition was observed with homologous and A. tamarii extracts only. Our results suggested the presence of both species specific as well as shared allergenic components among different Aspergillus species. In TDIEP experiments using rabbit antisera to A. tamarii and A. terreus extracts multiple precipitin bands were observed with the homologous extracts. However, only 1-2 bands were produced by 6 heterologous Aspergillus species in each system. Collectively, these results gave evidence that there is heterogeneity of immune response in the patients with allergic respiratory diseases to different species of Aspergillus and also in rabbits immunized with Aspergillus extracts.     

Beta-adrenergic receptors of lymphocytes in children with allergic respiratory diseases

The beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites on peripheral lymphocytes in children with bronchial asthma (n = 16) and seasonal allergic rhinitis (n = 8) were examined in comparison with normal controls (n = 18) by means of 124I-cyanopindolol. The number of beta-adrenergic receptors was significantly lower in the asthmatic group (858 +/- 460/lymphocyte) than in the controls (1564 +/- 983/lymphocyte). The value (1891 +/- 1502/lymphocyte in children with allergic rhinitis was slightly higher than that in healthy controls. Of the 24 patients suffering from allergic diseases of the lower or upper airways, the bronchial histamine provocation test was performed in 21; 16 gave positive results, while 5 were negative. No difference in beta-adrenergic receptor count was found between the histamine-positive and negative patients. Neither was there any correlation between the number of beta-adrenergic receptors and the high (16/24) and low (8/24) serum IgE concentrations found in allergic patients. The significant decrease in beta-adrenergic receptor count in asthmatic children lends support to Szentiványi's concept. Further qualitative and quantitative analysis of lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors may provide an individual approach to the treatment of bronchial asthma with beta-sympathomimetic drugs.     

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in patients with achalasia

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder that results in poor clearance of the esophagus. Although an esophagus filled with debris and undigested food should put these patients at risk for aspiration, the frequency with which the latter occurs has never been documented. In this study, we sought to determine the incidence of respiratory symptoms and complaints in patients with achalasia. A comprehensive symptom questionnaire was administered to 110 patients with achalasia presenting to the Swallowing Center at the University of Washington between 1994 and 2008 as part of their preoperative work‐up. Questionnaires were analyzed for the frequency of respiratory complaints in addition to the more typical symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain. Twenty‐two achalasia patients with respiratory symptoms who had also undergone Heller myotomy and completed a post‐op follow‐up questionnaire were analyzed as a subset. Ninety‐five patients (86%) complained of at least daily dysphagia. Fifty‐one patients (40%) reported the occurrence of at least one respiratory symptom daily, including cough in 41 patients (37%), aspiration (the sensation of inhaling regurgitated esophagogastric material) in 34 patients (31%), hoarseness in 23 patients (21%), wheezing in 17 patients (15%), shortness of breath in 11 patients (10%), and sore throat in 13 patients (12%). Neither age nor gender differed between those with and those without respiratory symptoms. In the subset of patients with respiratory symptoms who had undergone Heller myotomy, respiratory symptoms improved in the majority after the procedure. Patients with achalasia experience respiratory symptoms with much greater frequency than the approximately 10% that was previously believed. Awareness of this association may be important in the workup and ultimate treatment of patients with this uncommon esophageal disorder.     

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease

AIM: Investigation of the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 299 subjects with GERD were submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and a symptom analysis. RESULTS: Chronic respiratory symptoms or diseases were present in 18% (56/299). Chronic cough was observed in 42/56 patients, while typical reflux symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation were observed in 30/56 and 24/56 cases, respectively. The prevalence of airway diseases was chronic bronchitis 12/56, asthma 10/56, recurrent pneumonia 10/56, chronic sinusitis 7/56 and chronic laryngitis 1/56. In patients with respiratory complications pathologic acid reflux was established in 29/51 cases on the basis of the DeMeester score, while 17/51 had pathologic postprandial, nocturnal or diurnal reflux events. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a normal esophageal mucosa in 6/56, Savary-Miller stage I esophagitis in 23/56, stage II in 15/56, stage III in 5/56 and stage IV in 6/56 patients. CONCLUSIONS: These investigations have demonstrated an abnormal 24-hour pH score in about half of the patients with GERD-associated respiratory complications, and indicated that short reflux events are characteristic of the reflux activity in one third of this population.