Soluble trail as a marker of efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a common health problem affecting the immune system. The homeostasis of the immune system is regulated by apoptosis. In this study, serum circulating soluble TRAIL levels of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients before and after allergen-specific immunotherapy were evaluated. MATERIAL/METHODS: The sTRAIL levels of pre- and post-treated allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients (n=25) were compared to age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (n=25). sTRAIL levels were measured by ELISA. The skin prick test (SPT) results were recorded before and after treatment. RESULTS: The sTRAIL levels between the pre-treated and control groups were significantly different (p<0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between the post-treated group and healthy individuals (p=0,801). SPT was a statistically significant difference between the values of the research group before and after immunotherapy (grasses mixture, barley mixture, Oleaauropeae, D. Pteronyssinus, D. farinae). CONCLUSIONS: The sTRAIL levels were decreased after allergen-specific immunotherapy to healthy levels and may be of use as a marker of efficacy of immunotherapy in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients.

Systemic levels of ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis.

CONTEXT: The role of ceruloplasmin oxidase activity (COA) involving the interaction of oxidant and antioxidant balance in allergic diseases is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: Our study was designed to examine the changes in COAs in severe persistent asthma-allergic rhinitis, new diagnosed allergic asthma-allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis patients. METHODS: The study included 20 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals as control (Group I); Group II included 15 newly diagnosed allergic asthma-allergic rhinitis; Group III included 15 patients with severe persistent asthma-allergic rhinitis and in the fourth group there were 20 patients with allergic rhinitis. Group III was divided in two groups, severe persistent asthma-allergic rhinitis who were pre-(III-A) and post-treated (III-B) with omalizumab. Group IV was divided to two groups, pretreatment (IV-A) and posttreatment (IV-B) with specific subcutaneous immunotherapy modalities. All the posttreatment measurements were 12 months after the therapy. All the patients were assessed by the skin prick test, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and COA. RESULTS: There were significant differences between Group I and Groups III-A, III-B, IV-A and IV-B; Group II and Groups III-A, III-B, IV-A and IV-B; Group III-A and Groups III-B, IV-A and IV-B; Group III-A and Groups IV-A and IV-B; and Group IV-A and IV-B. Interestingly, there was a correlation between the hs-CRP and COA levels in Group III-A. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that hs-CRP and COA levels might be an indicator of an inflammation and important in revelation of patients with allergy related diseases, especially of asthma patients.

Total antioxidant capacity, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde and total nitric oxide concentrations in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma: its relation to omalizumab treatment.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease and omalizumab is indicated for moderate-to-severe persistent asthma. The results of many studies have shown that oxidative stress is involved in asthma pathogenesis. However, there is no data available to evaluate the alterations in total antioxidant capacity, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and total nitric oxide concentrations. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to determine whether treatment with omalizumab in severe allergic asthma influences systemic levels of oxidative stress markers. METHODS: The first group of 14 patients included 6 male and 8 female subjects with severe persistent asthma, having a mean age of 42.4 years. The second group included 14 newly diagnosed allergic asthma patients with a mean age of 43.8 years. All patients were followed in the Immunology and Allergy Clinic of the Antalya Education and Training Hospital and were evaluated by clinical status. A third group of 14 age-sex matched healthy controls were also included. Serum samples were collected and stored at -70 degrees C until use for the determination of total antioxidant capacity, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and total nitric oxide concentrations. Serum IgE levels, ANA (antinuclear antibody), RF (rheumatoid factor), hepatitis markers, C3, C4, and eosinophil levels were evaluated in all patients. All assays were carried out in duplicate. RESULTS: The mean IgE levels were as follow: Group I: 459.785 IU/mL; Group II: 124.8 IU/mL, and Group III: 39.88 IU/mL. Total antioxidant capacity levels of Group IB, group II, and group III were lower than the IA group. Total antioxidant capacity levels of groups II and III were higher than in group IB. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations in group IB were lower than in group IA, while concentrations in group II were higher than in group IB. The malondialdehyde concentration of group IB was lower than in all other groups. The malondialdehyde concentration of group III was higher than all other groups. The malondialdehyde concentration of group II was lower than in group III. The total nitric oxide level of group IB was lower than all other groups. The total nitric oxide level of group III was higher than all other groups, while that of group II was higher than for both groups IA/IB. CONCLUSIONS: To monitor the omalizumab treatment efficacy in severe allergic asthma patients, total antioxidant capacity, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and total nitric oxide concentrations might be new markers.