Comparison of bronchial and nasal allergen provocation in children and adolescents with bronchial asthma and house dust mite sensitization.

Background Bronchial allergen provocation (BAP) is an established tool for the diagnosis of allergy in patients with asthma, but its use is limited by the potential risk of severe asthmatic reactions. Nasal provocation testing (NPT) may be an alternative safe method and does not require sophisticated equipment. Objective The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the concordance of both methods in patients with asthma and house dust mite (HDM) sensitization. Methods A total of 112 patients with HDM sensitization underwent BAP and had the following parameters analysed: decrease in FEV1, exhaled NO, and total and specific IgE. Within 12 weeks, NPT with HDM was performed in 74 patients …

Children Below Five Years Of Age Can Handle Respimat® Soft MistTM Inhaler

Nasal IgE in subjects with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis

Abstract Purpose The prevalence of "ocal allergic rhinitis" within individuals suffering from perennial rhinitis remains uncertain, and patients usually are diagnosed with non-allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of a potential "local allergic rhinitis" in subjects suffering from non-allergic rhinitis in a non-selected group of young students. Methods 131 students (age 25.0 ± 5.1 years) with a possible allergic rhinitis and 25 non-allergic controls without rhinitis symptoms (age 22.0 ± 2.0 years) were recruited by public postings. 97 of 131 students with rhinitis were tested positive (≥3 mm) to prick testing with 17 frequent allergens at visit 1. Twenty-fo…

Safety of anti-IgE treatment with omalizumab in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis undergoing specific immunotherapy simultaneously

Kamin W, Kopp MV, Erdnuess F, Schauer U, Zielen S, Wahn U. Safety of anti-IgE treatment with omalizumab in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis undergoing specific immunotherapy simultaneously. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: e160–e165. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S Introduction  Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) affects at least 10–25% of the Caucasian race and about 40% of patients are children. Standard treatment of SAR is specific immunotherapy (SIT), but anti-allergic drugs can significantly enhance efficacy of SIT. One candidate is the humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody omalizumab. Material and Methods  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial in German…