Desensitization for the prevention of drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Drug desensitization is the temporary induction of tolerance to a sensitized drug by administering slow increments of the drug, starting from a very small amount to a full therapeutic dose. It can be used as a therapeutic strategy for patients with drug hypersensitivity when no comparable alternatives are available. Desensitization has been recommended for immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated immediate hypersensitivity; however, its indications have recently been expanded to include non-IgE-mediated, non-immunological, or delayed T cell-mediated reactions. Currently, the mechanism of desensitization is not fully understood. However, the attenuation of various intracellular signals in target cells is an area of active research, such as high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) internalization, anti-drug IgG4 blocking antibody, altered signaling pathways in mast cells and basophils, and reduced Ca2+ influx. Agents commonly requiring desensitization include antineoplastic agents, antibiotics, antituberculous agents, and aspirin/nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Various desensitization protocols (rapid or slow, multi-bag or one-bag, with different target doses) have been proposed for each drug. An appropriate protocol should be selected with the appropriate concentration, dosage, dosing interval, and route of administration. In addition, the protocol should be adjusted with consideration of the severity of the initial reaction, the characteristics of the drug itself, as well as the frequency, pattern, and degree of breakthrough reactions.

Home-based, slow up-dosing oral immunotherapy for hen's egg allergy in an adult patient.

Standard therapy for food allergies involves avoiding causative foods until a patient has outgrown their allergies. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is an optional treatment for children unlikely to outgrow their food allergy. However, information about OIT in adult patients with food allergies is very limited. We present a case of severe hen's egg allergy (HEA) in an adult who tried home-based, slow up-dosing OIT, reported to have been tolerable and effective in children. A 20-year-old woman with HEA experienced repeated anaphylaxis since childhood when she consumed a small quantity of hen's egg, so she completely avoided hen's eggs. She underwent inpatient oral food challenge (OFC) with 10-g boiled egg yolk and presented lip swelling and abdominal pain. OFC with 1-g boiled egg yolk the following day induced no adverse reaction. OIT was initiated using a home-based, slow up-dosing protocol. She consumed 1 g of boiled egg yolk at home every day, increasing this by 5%-10% every 2 weeks. She started 0.5-g boiled egg white after reaching a whole egg yolk. If adverse reactions occurred, the daily dose was decreased. After 59 months, she was able to eat an entire boiled egg. Anaphylaxis occurred 3 times during OIT due to accidental consumptions of egg products or insufficient heating of egg. Home-based, slow up-dosing OIT might be applicable for adults with severe HEA. It should be performed with appropriate equipment and education for patients, in case of emergency.

Heart Transplant Immunosuppression Strategies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Heart transplant is the optimal treatment for selected patients with end-stage heart failure. Immunosuppression after heart transplantation has significantly reduced the incidence of rejection and improved patient outcomes with the routine use of calcineurin inhibitors. Antimetabolites and proliferation signal inhibitors add to the improvement in patient outcomes as well. The goal of induction therapy is to provide intense immunosuppression when the risk of allograft rejection is highest. Most maintenance immunosuppressive protocols employ a 3-drug regimen consisting of a calcineurin inhibitor, an antimetabolite agent and glucocorticoids. The management of rejection proceeds in a stepwise fashion based on the severity of rejection detected on biopsy and the patient's clinical presentation. This review will cover induction, maintenance, rejection therapy and some special considerations including sensitization, renal sparing protocol, and corticosteroid weaning. It will end in consideration of potential future directions in immunosuppressive strategies to promote patient and graft survival.

Penicillin desensitization in allergic pregnant women with syphilis. Report of two cases / Desensibilización a penicilina en mujeres embarazadas alérgicas. Informe de dos casos

ABSTRACT Syphilis during pregnancy has a high risk of congenital transmission with disastrous fetal consequences. Penicillin (PNC) is the only effective antimicrobial for the treatment of pregnant women with syphilis. Chilean guidelines do not consider desensitization to PNC in these women. We report two cases of pregnant women aged 32 and 23 years, with immediate allergy to PNC and syphilis who were safely and successfully desensitized using a four-hour intravenous protocol in the critical care unit and who subsequently received benzathine G PNC. An electronic survey was conducted among approximately 100 Clinical Pharmacists (CP) in the country. Of these, 16 answered and 13 reported having experience in drug desensitization, in at least five cases with PNC and none reported deaths or cardiorespiratory arrest. Desensitization to PNC can be carried out safely and in Chile, this alternative should be incorporated to the management of pregnant women with syphilis and immediate allergy to PNC, instead of using erythromycin.

La sífilis durante el embarazo tiene un alto riesgo de transmisión congénita con consecuencias desastrosas para el feto. La penicilina (PNC) es el único compuesto efectivo para el tratamiento de sífilis en una mujer embarazada.. En Chile, ante alergias de tipo inmediata, no se considera la desensibilización a la PNC en mujeres embarazadas por norma ministerial. Se comunican dos casos de mujeres embarazadas con alergia tipo inmediata y sífilis durante la gestación que fueron desensibilizadas a este compuesto con un protocolo endovenoso de 4 horas en la unidad de pacientes críticos, sin observar complicaciones, recibiendo posteriormente PNC G Benzatina. Se efectuó una encuesta electrónica a farmacéuticos clínicos del país que incluyó más de 100 profesionales. De ellos, 16 contestaron y 13 declararon poseer experiencia en desensibilización de fármacos, en al menos cinco casos con PNC y ninguno reportó muertes o paro cardiorrespiratorio. La desensibilización a PNC puede ser efectuada en forma segura en embarazadas con alergia de tipo inmediata a PNC que cursan con sífilis. En Chile se debería incorporar esta alternativa en el manejo de mujeres embarazadas con sífilis y alergia inmediata a PNC en lugar de solo considerar por norma el uso de eritromicina.

Loss of tolerance 5 days after discontinuing sulphonamide introduced via desensitization in delayed reaction / Perda da tolerância 5 dias após suspensão de sulfonamida introduzida através de dessensibilização por reação tardia

ABSTRACT The fixed drug eruption is a non-immediate hypersensitivity reaction to drug, characterized by recurrent erythematous or violaceous, rounded, well-defined border plaques, which always appear in the same location every time the culprit drug is administered. The usual practice is to avoid the drug involved and to use a structurally different drug. However, there are situations in which there is no safe and effective therapy. In such situations, desensitization is the only option. We describe the case of a patient who presented fixed eruption due to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, who underwent successful desensitization, but required a repeat procedure twice due to relapse after inadvertent full-dose reintroduction. In non-immediate hypersensitivity reaction to drug, the indication is controversial and there is no technical standardization. Furthermore, the time at which such tolerance is lost after discontinuing the drug involved is unknown. In severe non-immediate reactions of types II and III, desensitization is contraindicated. The patient underwent desensitisation to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim three times − the first with recurrence of lesions and the second and third without manifestations, all concluded successfully and with no premedication.

RESUMO A erupção fixa por drogas é uma reação de hipersensibilidade a medicamento não imediata, caracterizada por placas eritematosas ou violáceas, arredondadas, recorrentes, de bordas bem definidas e que aparecem sempre na mesma localização cada vez que o medicamento culpado é administrado. A prática habitual é evitar a droga envolvida e utilizar um medicamento estruturalmente diferente. Contudo, há situações em que não há terapêutica segura e eficaz. Em tais situações, a dessensibilização é a única opção. Descrevemos o caso de um paciente que apresentou erupção fixa por drogas por sulfametoxazol-trimetoprim, tendo sido submetido à dessensibilização com sucesso, mas necessitou repetição do procedimento duas vezes, por recidiva da reação após reintrodução inadvertida em dose plena. Em reação de hipersensibilidade a medicamento não imediata, a indicação é controversa e não há padronização técnica. Além disso, não se conhece o tempo durante o qual essa tolerância é perdida após a suspensão da droga envolvida. Nas reações não imediatas graves e dos tipos II e III, a dessensibilização está contraindicada. O paciente foi submetido a dessensibilização ao sulfametoxazol-trimetoprim por três vezes − a primeira com recorrência de lesões, e a segunda e terceira sem manifestações, sendo todas concluídas com sucesso e sem uso de pré-medicação.

Comparison of adverse events between cluster and conventional immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis patients with or without asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cluster schedule of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is a cost-effective choice for allergic rhinitis (AR) patients, but its safety has been questioned due to the greater dosages required at each treatment compared with conventional immunotherapy. It remains a question that whether cluster schedule leads to a higher risk of side effects. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to update the evidence and investigate whether cluster schedule leads to a higher risk of local adverse reactions (LARs) and systemic adverse reactions (SARs) than cluster schedule does. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE and Medline thoroughly and included studies comparing cluster and conventional schedules. A meta-analysis of 5 outcomes related to adverse events was performed after bias and heterogeneity assessments. And as a result of language limitations, we considered only articles in Chinese and English. RESULTS: 5 observational studies and 6 interventional studies were included in the meta-analysis. There were no differences between cluster and conventional schedules when analyzing SARs by the number of patients, delayed SARs, grade 2 SARs and LARs. Analyses of SARs by injection, grade 1 SARs and LARs by injection in observational studies showed that cluster schedule had a lower risk of adverse events than did conventional schedule. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that cluster schedule is as safe as or even safer than conventional schedule for AR patients with or without asthma (AS).

Peanut allergy and oral immunotherapy.

Peanut allergy is the commonest cause of food-induced anaphylaxis in the world, and it can be fatal. There have been many recent improvements to achieve safe methods of peanut desensitisation, one of which is to use a combination of anti-immunoglobulin E and oral immunotherapy. We have treated 27 patients with anti-immunoglobulin E and oral immunotherapy, and report on the outcomes and incidence of adverse reactions encountered during treatment. The dose of peanut protein tolerated increased from a median baseline of 5 to 2000 mg after desensitisation, which is substantially more than would be encountered through accidental ingestion. The incidence of adverse reactions during the escalation phase of oral immunotherapy was 1.8%, and that during the maintenance phase was 0.6%. Most adverse reactions were mild; three episodes were severe enough to warrant withdrawal from oral immunotherapy, but none required epinephrine injection. Preliminary data suggest that unresponsiveness is lost when daily ingestion of peanuts is stopped after the maintenance period.

Course of respiratory allergy by treatment strategy based on German routine data.

PURPOSE: Allergic respiratory diseases represent a global health problem. The two major treatment strategies are symptom treatment and specific immunotherapy (SIT). SIT is considered the only causal treatment option available with the ability to alter the course of the disease. This study aims to describe the course of disease and medication of respiratory allergy across treatment strategies and disease groups. METHODS: The analysis is based on routine data from a German statutory health insurance. The patient cohort is observed from 2007-2012. For each year based on assured outpatient diagnoses patients are assigned to a disease group: rhinitis, asthma or both diseases. Additionally, prescribed medication is considered. Treatment comparisons are based on matched pairs. RESULTS: The study population comprises 165,446 patients with respiratory allergy. In 2007 the most frequent disease group is rhinitis (70%), followed by asthma (16%) and both diseases (14%). During the observation period a second allergic respiratory diagnosis occurs only in about 12% of rhinitis patients and 28% of asthma patients. In about 50% of patients with both diseases one of the diagnoses is omitted. These patients are more likely to no longer report their asthma diagnosis when receiving immunotherapy compared to symptom treatment. Furthermore immunotherapy reduces the frequency of asthma medication use. CONCLUSIONS: Results of detailed analysis of diagnoses reflect the alternating nature of allergic diseases. Although limited by accuracy of documentation and the lack of clinical information, the comparison of treatment strategies shows some advantages of immunotherapy regarding course of disease and asthma medication use.

[Molecular-allergological aspects of allergen-specific immunotherapy]. / Molekular-allergologische Aspekte der allergenspezifischen Immuntherapie.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) does not achieve 100% efficacy, nor is there a reliable marker for therapy failure. However, advances in molecular allergology over the past few years have allowed a significantly improved characterization of the patients using molecular-allergological analysis methods (molecular phenotyping). Thus, major and minor allergens can be identified. In addition, the marker allergens for the severity of an allergic reaction, the pathological and therapeutic predictive marker allergens, and sensitization patterns are identified.

Antibody-Mediated Rejection: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic antibody injury is a serious threat to allograft outcomes and is therefore the center of active research. In the continuum of allograft rejection, the development of antibodies plays a critical role. In recent years, an increased recognition of molecular and histologic changes has provided a better understanding of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), as well as potential therapeutic interventions. However, several pathways are still unknown, which accounts for the lack of efficacy of some of the currently available agents that are used to treat rejection. METHODS: We review the current diagnostic criteria for AMR; AMR paradigms; and desensitization, treatment, and prevention strategies. RESULTS: Chronic antibody-mediated endothelial injury results in transplant glomerulopathy, manifested as glomerular basement membrane duplication, double contouring, or splitting. Clinical manifestations of AMR include proteinuria and a rise in serum creatinine. Current strategies for the treatment of AMR include antibody depletion with plasmapheresis (PLEX), immunoadsorption (IA), immunomodulation with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and T cell- or B cell-depleting agents. Some treatment benefits have been found in using PLEX and IA, and some small nonrandomized trials have identified some benefits in using rituximab and the proteasome inhibitor-based therapy bortezomib. More recent histologic follow-ups of patients treated with bortezomib have not shown significant benefits in terms of allograft outcomes. Furthermore, no specific treatment approaches have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Other agents used for more difficult rejections include bortezomib and eculizumab (an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody). CONCLUSION: AMR is a fascinating field with ample opportunities for research and progress in the future. Despite the use of advanced techniques for the detection of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) or non-HLA donor-specific antibodies, alloimmune response remains an important barrier for successful long-term allograft function. Treatment of AMR with currently available therapies has produced a variety of results, some of them suboptimal, precluding the development of standardized protocols. New therapies are promising, but randomized controlled trials are needed to find surrogate markers and improve the efficacy of therapy.

Vigilancia de la efectividad y seguridad de las vacunas VALERGEN en el tratamiento del asma / Surveillance of the effectiveness and safety of the VALERGEN vaccines in the treatment of asthma

Fundamento: la inmunoterapia es la única estrategia terapéutica para cambiar el rumbo de la fisiopatología de las enfermedades alérgicas, de aquí la importancia del estudio de su aplicación, las posibles reacciones adversas y su efectividad en dichas enfermedades. Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad y seguridad de las vacunas VALERGEN en el tratamiento del asma. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional de cohorte en pacientes con diagnóstico de asma intermitente, persistente leve y moderada a los que se les indicó la administración de las vacunas VALERGEN tanto por vía sublingual como por vía subcutánea. Se estableció un sistema de seguimiento prospectivo activo de los pacientes asmáticos vacunados, se empleó el método de farmacovigilancia monitoreo de eventos adversos en una cohorte. Se tomó una muestra de 100 pacientes que cumplieron los criterios de selección. Los datos se recolectaron a través de cuestionarios. Para el análisis de los mismos se utilizó estadística descriptiva e inferencial. El procesamiento de la información se realizó mediante el paquete estadístico SPSS versión 15.0. Los resultados obtenidos fueron ilustrados en tablas y gráficos. Resultados: se encontró un predominio de pacientes con disminución de síntomas de asma y de la medicación con el uso de inmunoterapia, resultado que mostró una alta significación estadística (p=0,000). Los eventos adversos que más se presentaron fueron el habón >5cm, eritema, rinitis y la asociación de rinitis y asma, estos predominaron en el grupo etáreo de cinco a nueve años, sexo femenino, vía subcutánea, con la mezcla de Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus y Blomia tropicalis (VALERGEN DP + VALERGEN BT) y con concentración de 20 000 UB/ml. Conclusiones: la inmunoterapia con vacunas VALERGEN propicia una evolución clínica favorable en la mayoría de los pacientes, con un bajo índice de eventos adversos, lo que confirma su efectividad y seguridad en el tratamiento del asma.

Background: immunotherapy is the sole therapeutic strategy used to change the direction of physiopathology of allergic illnesses, hence the importance of this study, its application, the possible adverse reactions and its effectiveness in these conditions. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the VALERGEN vaccines in the treatment of asthma. Methods: an observational study of cohort was carried out in patients with diagnosis of mild to moderate persistent and intermittent asthma on which the administration of the VALERGEN vaccines were indicated by sublingual route or subcutaneously. An active prospective approach of the patients with asthma was used and the method of pharmacosurveillance monitoring of adverse events in a cohort was established. A sample of 100 patients fulfilling the selection criteria was conformed. The data were gathered through questionnaires. The analysis of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The prosecution of information was carried out by means of the statistical package SPSS version 15.0. The obtained results were illustrated in charts and graphics. Results: a prevalence of patient with decreased asthma symptoms was found and also the need for medication with the use of immunotherapy, this result that showed a high statistical significance (p=0,000). The adverse events presented more often were, the weal >5cm, erythema, rhinitis and the rhinitis association and asthma, these prevailed in the ages from 5 to 9 years, feminine sex, subcutaneous route, with the mixture of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis (VALERGEN DP + VALERGEN BT) and with concentration of 20 000 UB/ml. Conclusion: immunotherapy with VALERGEN vaccines provides a positive clinical evolution in the majority of the patients, with a low rate of adverse events which confirms its effectiveness and safety in the treatment of asthma.

Induction of Bronchial Tolerance After 1 Cycle of Monophosphoryl-A-Adjuvanted Specific Immunotherapy in Children With Grass Pollen Allergies.

PURPOSE: Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy (SCIT) is a well-established and clinically effective method to treat allergic diseases, such as rhinitis and asthma. It remains unclear how soon after initiation of an ultra-short course of grass pollen immunotherapy adjuvanted with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL)-specific bronchial tolerance can be induced. METHODS: In a prospective study of 69 children double-sensitized to birch and grass pollens (51 males, average age 11.1 years), development of bronchial tolerance after 1 cycle of SCIT for grass was evaluated. In all the patients, the bronchial allergen provocation test (BAP) was performed before and after treatment. According to the results of the first BAP, the patients were divided into 2 groups: those showing a negative BAP with a decrease in FEV1 of <20% (seasonal allergic rhinitis [SAR] group, n=47); and those showing a positive BAP with a decrease in FEV1 of ≥20% (SAR with allergic asthma [SAR and Asthma] group, n=22). All the patients received MPL-adjuvanted, ultra-short course immunotherapy for birch, but only those with a positive BAP to grass received MPL-SCIT for grass. RESULTS: After the pollen season, the BAP in the SAR group remained unchanged, while it was improved in the SAR and Asthma group (decrease in FEV1 of 28.8% vs 12.5%, P<0.01). The IgG4 levels increased after SCIT (median before SCIT 0.34 to 11.4 after SCIT), whereas the total and specific IgE levels remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: After 1 cycle of MPL-SCIT, specific bronchial tolerance may be significantly induced, whereas in patients without SCIT, bronchial hyperactivity may remain unchanged.

[Semen allergy]. / Spermaallergie.

A semen allergy is a type I reaction. Reliable figures about incidence/prevalence are not available. Symptoms can be characterized as local and systemic. After exposure to ejaculate, the patient may experience itching and swelling at points of contact, while systemically it may also lead to generalized urticaria with angioedema or higher grade anaphylaxis. As triggering allergens, substances in seminal plasma (SP) have been identified, which can be SP typical or SP atypical. Reactions against spermatozoa have not yet been clearly proven. With regard to SP-typical allergens, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been identified, while for SP-atypical allergens, medications or food allergens have been reported, which apparently accumulate in the SP and can then trigger symptoms in women with existing sensitization. The main criteria for the diagnosis of sperm allergy is freedom from symptoms when condoms are used during intercourse. In addition, skin prick tests and determination of allergen-specific IgE are used. In patients with a desire for children, washed, SP-free spermatozoa can be used for insemination. In addition, desensitization may be considered.

Oral antiplatelet agent hypersensitivity and cross-reactivity managed by successful desensitisation.

Oral platelet aggregation inhibitors are widely used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary stent thrombosis. Premature discontinuation following percutaneous coronary intervention would pose a grave risk of in-stent thrombosis, acute myocardial infarction and eventual death. Although they share the same mechanism of adenosine diphosphate P2Y12 platelet receptor inhibition, they belong to either the chemical class of thienopyridines (clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticlopidine) or cyclopentyl-triazolo-pyrimidines (ticagrelor and cangrelor). This case describes the first documented cross-reactive hypersensitivity of clopidogrel towards both its fellow thienopyridine, prasugrel, as well as the structurally dissimilar ticagrelor, and its subsequent successful desensitisation.

Immunotherapy for peanut allergy.

Peanut allergy is one of the commonest food hypersensitivities causing fatal or near-fatal reactions. There is, currently, no preventive treatment and the incidence of severe allergic reactions during peanut desensitisation has limited its clinical use. Anti-immunoglobulin E therapy has been shown to be effective in preventing peanut-induced reactions but it does not result in long-term tolerance. Two important advances have recently been reported. One involves gradual oral introduction of peanut protein to desensitise, whereas the other approach uses a combination of anti-immunoglobulin E and oral peanut immunotherapy. Both approaches could offer a way to desensitise with a far greater margin of safety than has, hitherto, been reported. This article provides an overview of the literature on peanut immunotherapy and describes the experience in a small group of children in Hong Kong who were treated successfully using anti-immunoglobulin E combined with oral peanut desensitisation.

Alergia a la leche y al huevo: diagnóstico, manejo e implicaciones en América Latina / Milk and egg allergy: Diagnosis, management and implications for Latin America

La sensibilización a alimentos y el desarrollo de alergias alimentarias viene aumentando en todo el mundo, siendo la leche de vaca y el huevo de gallina los principales alimentos implicados. En la mayoría de los países latinoamericanos no existen guías de manejo y cuando se elaboren deberán adaptarse a las condiciones de la población de cada región. En el presente artículo presentamos una revisión del manejo de la alergia alimentaria a la leche y al huevo útil para el personal de salud de todos los niveles, así como algunas consideraciones de los factores presentes en los países latinoamericanos.

Sensitization to food allergens, as well as the development of food allergies, is increasing worldwide, and cow´s milk and hen´s eggs are the main implicated foods. In most Latin American countries there are no management guidelines on the aforementioned topics; at their creation, such guidelines should be adapted to the conditions of the population in each region. This paper presents a review of the management of food allergy to milk and eggs useful for health personnel at all levels and some considerations of the factors found in Latin American developing countries.

Eficacia de la inmunoterapia subcutánea con extractos de ácaros en adultos asmáticos / Effectiveness of subcutaneous immunotherapy with mite extracts in asthmatic adults

Fundamento: la inmunoterapia alergeno específica constituye el único tratamiento capaz de modificar el curso natural de las enfermedades alérgicas, tiene efecto multiorgánico y duradero a largo plazo después de suspender su administración y se han probado sus efectos preventivos, tanto en la prevención de nuevas sensibilizaciones como en la progresión de la rinitis al asma. Objetivo: evaluar la eficacia de una nueva pauta de inmunoterapia subcutánea con extractos alergénicos de ácaros en adultos asmáticos. Método: se realizó un ensayo clínico fase II, abierto, aleatorizado en 50 pacientes con diagnóstico de asma bronquial leve o moderada, sensibles a ácaros del polvo por prueba de Prick .La población objeto de estudio estuvo constituida por 200 pacientes con antecedentes patológicos de asma bronquial y edades entre 18 y 50 años, que acudieron a la consulta de Alergología del Hospital Universitario Manuel Ascunce Domenech, desde mayo de 2011 a mayo de 2012. A los mismos se les administró inmunoterapia subcutánea con extractos de ácaros (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, y Blomia tropicalis) a concentraciones de 20 UB/ml, 200 UB/ ml, 2 000 UB/ml y 20 000 UB/ml en el primer grupo, según el esquema propuesto por el BIOCEN, se alcanzó la dosis de mantenimiento en 13 semanas a intervalos semanales. El segundo grupo recibió pauta convencional de 16 semanas. Resultados: en la evaluación de la eficacia se comprobó una reducción de los síntomas clínicos y del consumo de medicación al final del tratamiento en ambos grupos pero de manera significativa en el grupo estudio (p=0,020). La reactividad cutánea a los ácaros disminuyó significativamente en el grupo estudio con respecto al grupo control. Conclusiones: se demuestró un alto grado de eficacia de esta pauta más acortada con extractos de ácaros, lo que garantiza una adhesión al tratamiento superior a la pauta de 16 semanas con frecuencia bisemanal.

Background: allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only treatment capable of modifying the natural course of allergic diseases; it has multiple organ and long term effect after stopping its administration and its preventive effects have been tested, both in the prevention of new sensitizations and in the progression of rhinitis to asthma. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of a new subcutaneous immunotherapy schedule with mite extracts in asthmatic adults. Method: a phase II, open, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 50 patients with diagnosis of mild or moderate bronchial asthma, sensitive to dust mites by Prick test. The study population was constituted by 200 patients with a pathological history of bronchial asthma and aged between 18 and 50 years, who were treated in the Allergology consultation at the University Hospital Manuel Ascunce Domenech, from May 2011 to may 2012. They were given subcutaneous immunotherapy with mite extracts (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis) at concentrations of 20 ml/UB 200 UB / UB/ml 2 000 and 20 000 ml/UB/ml in the first group, according to the schedule proposed by BIOCEN, it was reached the maintenance dose in 13 weeks at weekly intervals. The second group received conventional schedule of 16 weeks. Results: it was found a reduction of clinical symptoms as well as in medication consumption at the end of the treatment in both groups, but significantly in the study group (p=0,020). Skin reactivity to mites significantly decreased in the study group regarding the control group. Conclusions: a high degree of effectiveness of this new schedule with mites’ extracts was demonstrated, this guarantees a greater adhesion to treatment, which it is far superior to the previous 16-week schedule with a twice-weekly frequency.

Aspirin desensitisation for Chinese patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE. To assess the efficacy and safety of aspirin desensitisation in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease. DESIGN. Case series. SETTING. A regional hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Chinese patients with coronary artery disease and a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, who underwent aspirin desensitisation between February 2008 and July 2012. RESULTS. There were 24 Chinese patients with coronary artery disease who were admitted to our unit for aspirin desensitisation during this period. The majority (79%) were clinical admissions for desensitisation; eight (33%) of them developed a hypersensitivity reaction during desensitisation. Half of the latter had only limited cutaneous reactions and were able to complete the desensitisation protocol and developed aspirin tolerance. Overall, 20 (83%) of the patients were successfully desensitised at the initial attempt. No serious adverse reactions occurred in the cohort. Twelve of the patients had significant coronary artery disease revealed by coronary angiography and received a percutaneous coronary intervention, nine of whom received drug-eluting stents while three received bare metal stents due to financial constraints. All 11 successfully desensitised patients received aspirin and clopidogrel as double antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention. The remaining patient had a bare metal stent implant due to failed aspirin desensitisation. CONCLUSION. Given the potentially different genetic basis of aspirin hypersensitivity in different ethnicities, recourse to desensitisation in the Chinese population has not previously been addressed. This study demonstrated that aspirin desensitisation using a rapid protocol can be performed effectively and safely in Chinese patients. Our results were comparable to those in other reported studies involving other ethnicities. Successful aspirin desensitisation permits patients to pursue long-term double antiplatelet therapy that includes aspirin after percutaneous coronary intervention, and thus allows the use of drug-eluting stents as a feasible option.