Quality of Life and Characterization of Patients With Atopic Dermatitis in Portugal: The QUADEP Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quality of life (QOL) of and to characterize patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) in Portugal. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with AD and other eczemas. Skindex-29, Skindex-teen, and the Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale (CADIS) were the instruments used to assess QOL in adults, teenagers, and children, respectively. The SF-12 was also used, and disease severity was evaluated using the Patient-Oriented SCORAD (PO-SCORAD) instrument. Associations with QOL were assessed based on the odds ratio (OR). P values <.05 and 95%CIs were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study population comprised 162 participants aged 0.5-74 years. We found that 37.3% of AD patients consider their disease disabling and that more than half of the patients feel stigmatized by society. The mean Skindex score for AD was 39.68, and the impact on QOL was severe in 44%. "Symptoms" was the most affected category in adults. AD was moderate to severe in 87% of the sample. One of the factors that most influenced poorer QOL in AD was age: with increasing age, the Skindex is likely to increase (OR, 1.03; 95%CI, 1.00-1.06). "Considering the disease a disability" was also associated (OR, 6.72; 95%CI, 2.56-17.63). QOL worsens with increasingly affected body area (OR, 1.07; 95%CI, 1.03-1.11) and the presence of edema (OR, 2.0; 95%CI, 1.23-3.40). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to provide data on QOL in patients with AD in Portugal. Our data show an expected negative impact. More awareness-raising activities are needed to increase knowledge, decrease stigmatization, and, consequently, address the factors involved in the QOL of patients with AD.

Eczema and Urticaria in the Adult Population in Portugal: A Prevalence Study. / Eccema y urticaria en la población adulta en Portugal: un estudio de prevalencia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Eczema and urticaria are both inflammatory skin diseases. The prevalence of both diseases varies worldwide and the reasons are unknown. We aimed to investigate the eczema and urticaria prevalence in the Portuguese adult (≥16 years-old) population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A telephone interview survey was performed in the last quarter of 2017. To calculate the prevalences, subjects should have been previously diagnosed with eczema/urticaria by a health professional, be aged ≥16 years-old, and reside in Portugal. The sample had a proportion that was approximately representative by population, region, gender, and age group. Odds ratios were performed to measure associations with prevalences. SPSS statistics and values of p<0.05 with 95% confidence intervals were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 5,000 phone calls were analysed. The prevalence of eczema and urticaria in Portugal is 4.4% and 3.4%, respectively. Algarve is the region with the highest prevalence for both diseases. Being a female is the factor that most influenced these diseases with an OR=1.99 (p<0.001; CI 1.49-2.66) for eczema and 1.73 (p=0.001; CI 1.25 - 2.40) for urticaria, with also higher prevalences (5.7% and 4.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalences found are higher than in previous studies in Portugal and comparable to results from other countries. Comparisons among prevalence of eczema are affected by several obstacles. Regarding urticaria, our results seem to be in the same line as others. Being female with eczema and urticaria is more common and represents a higher risk factor than male subjects. According to Harrop et al., 2007, in Europe, atopic eczema is 0.14-0.60% of general eczema. In this way, we can estimate that prevalence of atopic eczema in Portugal is around 0.61-2.64%.

The asthma rhinitis link.

The reports and similarities between rhinitis and asthma are presented--common triggers, common inflammatory mechanisms and incidence of association of both diseases are analysed. Personal data on the frequency of asthma in rhinitis and of rhinitis in asthma are presented. The effect of nasal provocations tests in peak expiratory flow in patients with and without rhinitis is compared being greater in presence of nasal allergy. Finally the ARIA recommendations are discussed.

"In vivo" and "in vitro": tests in the diagnosis of trichophyton allergy.

A group of 100 patients with Trichophyton allergy and a control of group of 100 without fungal allergy have been compared in order to evaluate the diagnostic value of skin prick and intradermal tests and assay of Trichophyton specific IgE. The evaluation of sensitivity, specificity efficacy, positive and negative predictive values suggests that skin tests in two steps, prick and intradermal and research of specific IgE must be used to a better diagnostic approach. In cases were allergy is not cleared by antifungal therapy specific immunotherapy is worthwhile to be tried with a great percentage of success.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency asthma and allergy.

The biochemistry, genetics and pathology of alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency are reviewed. The geographical distribution in Europe of more current phenotypes M, SZ is discussed. Two cases of alpha-1- anti-trypsin are presented one homozygotic ZZ non-smoker without any respiratory pathology and one heterozygotic SZ heavy smoker with a severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and reversibility to Beta-2-mimetics suggesting asthma. The relationship between alpha-1-antitrypsin and asthma is discussed and general measures of treatment or prevention suggested.

Drug allergy and asthma.

The prevalence of drug induced asthma in a series of 347 patients with drug induced adverse effects has been evaluated corresponding to 10% of drug adverse effects always due to NSAIDS.

"In vivo" and "in vitro" tests in the diagnosis of Beta-lactams allergy.

The results of "in vivo" and "in vitro" diagnostic tests in 114 patients reporting an allergic reaction to Beta-lactams are presented. Skin test gave an overall positivity of 85% and determination of specific IgE of 42%. Skin tests have a greater sensitivity but "in vitro" tests are an useful associated diagnostic method.

Drug allergy and pollinosis. A short report.

2 series of patients with pollinosis and drug allergy studied 10 years apart and comprising 115 cases are presented. In both series grass pollens and parietaria are as usual the most common cause of pollinosis but Parietaria was more common in the first series. Beta-lactams were the major cause of drug allergy in the first group, supersed by NSAID in the second group. Rhinitis was the more frequent symptom on pollinosis and urticaria/angioedema on drug allergy.

Trichophyton allergy: review of 89 cases.

A serie of 89 cases (55 men 34 women) of Tricophyton allergy is presented. All the patients had a clinical history and in 86 out of 89 lesions of dermatophytosis urticaria/angioedema was present in 57, eczema in 8, rhinitis in 12, conjunctivitis in 1 and asthma in 12. Skin prick tests to Tricophyton were positive in 53 (59,6%) of the patients and intradermal test in all. Specific IgE was found in 45 (69,3%) out of 70 patients. Antifungal treatment was effective at mean term in 18 cases. Specific immunotherapy was evaluated in 54 with good or very good results in 41 (83,3%). Tricophyton dermatophytosis must be looked for in all the cases of urticaria/angioedema and most cases of respiratory allergy without clear allergy to inhalants.

Prevalence of drug allergy in an out-patient population.

The prevalence of drug allergy in an out-patient population has been studied, 448 cases were diagnosed mainly to NSAIDS and beta-lactams and local anesthetics, sulfa drugs, quinolones and others. Clinical history and skin tests are sufficient to diagnose most cases of drug allergy.

Skin tests in NSAIDS hypersensitivity.

Prick tests are more specific but less sensitive than ID which can give false positive results. 3 NSAIDS groups can be considered: Aspirin, diclofenac and metamizol with a higher percentage of positivity. For others NSAIDS including the newer coxibs positivity around 50%. Nimesulid and acetaminophen with a lower of positivity. Skin tests can be used in NSAIDS hypersensitivity to confirm clinical history but also to choose, case by case, a drug less prone to give hypersentivity reactions.

Monoid sublingual immunotherapy.

Sublingual monoid immunotherapy with monomeric allergoids has been largely used in Europe in the last few years. An open trial of allergoid in tablets has been done in rhinitic patients allergic to house dust mites, grass pollens and Parietaria with clear improvement in clinics and drug consumption scores. In a second phase a double blind placebo controlled trial of grass pollens allergoids have been done in hay fever patients with significant decrease on the scores of rhinorrea, sneezing and conjunctivitis nasal steroid consumption and clinical score after serial nasal challenges. Monomeric allergoids are an efficace and safe immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis.

Solar urticaria and porphyrias.

The importance of disturbances of porphyrin metabolism in solar urticaria is discussed. 15 cases of porphyrias with sun sensitivity are presented comprising 5 cases of erythropoietic protoporhyria, 8 cases of coproporphyria hereditaria and 2 cases of porphyria variegata, 9 out of these 10 patients presented neuroabdominal symptoms and in 4 cases contraceptive pills have triggered the disease. Due to the risk of severe forms of disease sometimes drugs induced porphyrias must be considered in all cases of solar urticaria and a correct laboratory study done in the suspected cases.

Chronic urticaria and thyroid auto-immunity.

Purpose was to evaluate thyroid auto-immunity and thyroid function in chronic urticaria (CU). Evaluation of antibodies Ab to thyroglobulin (TG) thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and of TSH, FT3, FT4, and of intra-dermal self test with patients own serum in 56 patients presenting chronic idiopathic urticaria and in a matched control group of 56 subjects without CU. Ab to TG positive in 13 (22.2%) to TPO in 15 (26.8%). Overall thyroid antibodies 28.5%. Thyroid function normal in 52 patients, TSH increased in 2, FT3 decreased in 1, TG and TPO Abs and thyroid function results always normal in control group. Self test positive in 4 out of 56 patients. Therapy with thyroid extract was effective in 2 out of 5 cases. CU is associated with thyroid autoimmunity in most cases. Thyroid Ab and function must be evaluated in all the cases of chronic urticaria.

Allergy to sunflower seeds.

A case of oral syndrome after eating sunflower seeds is reported. Sensitization has been probably through inhalant route when using these seeds to feed birds. Skin prick tests with a fresh macerate of sunflower seeds has been clearly positive (greater than histamine control) but commercial extracts have given borderline positivity and specific IgE to sunflower was strongly positive.

"Minor" hemoglobinopathies: a risk factor for asthma.

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia, sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies are not rare in Portugal and European Mediterranean area. Homozygotic patients present major hematological disease but heterozygotic minor assymptomatic forms are frequent, mainly thalassemia minor and sickle cell trait. In these cases mycrocytosis with decrease or red cell volume and mean corpuscular volume or abnormal rigid erythrocytes are found and can lead to hemorheologic disturbances. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence of asthma in hemoglobinopatic patients allergic to house dust mites. METHOD: From 4.000 patients seen in the last 5 years in an out-patient allergy clinic, 63 cases of hemoglobinopathies have been confirmed by red cell count, hemoglobin electrophoresis, assays of hemoglobin A2, Fc, and S, and sickle cell test. All these patients had allergic disease characterized by clinical history, skin prick test to aeroallergens total and specific IgE (RAST-CAP-FEIA) and respiratory function evaluation. RESULTS: 66 Hemoglobinopathies: Betathalassemia 61 cases, Betadelta thalassemia 2, sickle cell trait 2, Hemoglobin C, 1.57 patients have respiratory allergy, rhinitis in 14 cases of thalassemia and 1 of hemoglobin C, asthma with or without rhinitis in 41 cases of thalassemia and 1 case of sickle cell trait, the other 6 cutaneous allergy. Therefore asthma was present in 75.0% of the respiratory allergic patients and rhinitis only in 25.0%. In contrast in a control group of 491 respiratory allergic patients wihout hemoglobinopathies, 57% has asthma and 43% only rhinitis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma is higher in thalassemia minor and sickle cell trait (p<0.05 Square chi test). Hemorheological changes probably a greater rigidity of red blood cells in capillary bed can contribute to changes in bronchial circulation and bronchial hypereactivity. Detection of hemoglobinopathies must be done in asthmatic patients with slight anemia or mycrocytosis.

Immunoblot studies in allergic patients to hymenoptera venom before and during immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy (VIT) is immunologically effective in patients with systemic allergic reactions after hymenoptera stings. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of VIT on specific IgE and IgG4 immunoblotting bands in VIT-treated patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Specific IgE and IgG4 immunoblotting bands for hymenoptera venom were performed with ALABLOT in sera of 17 patients (8 allergic to honeybee venom, 8 to wasp and 1 to polistes venom) before and during successful VIT (1 and 3 years). Before immunotherapy, all patients had experienced moderate/severe systemic reactions to a hymenoptera sting, with positive skin tests and venom-specific IgE. During immunotherapy all patients suffered field stings, without any systemic reaction. RESULTS: Before VIT we detected several immunoglobulin-binding bands in different regions, with different individual patterns. After VIT, we observed in some patients (5/8 for honeybee venom, 6/8 for wasp and 1/1 for polistes) complete disappearance of some IgE-binding bands, mainly the 15 kDa region (honeybee) and 23 and 44 kDa regions (wasp and polistes). All patients showed decreased intensity of IgE-binding bands, most pronounced in regions 16, 44 and 52 kDa (honeybee); 44 and 35 kDa bands (wasp) and 23 kDa (polistes). Some patients showed de novo appearance of IgG4-binding bands (4/8 for honeybee and 8/8 for wasp venom), mainly in 52 kDa (honeybee) and in 23 and 44 kDa regions (wasp). All patients showed increased intensity of IgG4 bands that were already present before VIT, more pronounced in 52 and 44 kDa (honeybee) and in 44 and 35 kDa regions (wasp). CONCLUSIONS: During successful VIT there are changes in intensity and number of IgE and IgG4 binding bands, which could reflect the immunological improvement induced by VIT. These changes are more pronounced/frequent in wasp VIT, a fact that could explain the best results usually seen in these patients.

Quality of life and characterization of patients with atopic dermatitis in Portugal: the QUADEP study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the quality of life (QOL) of and to characterize patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) in Portugal. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with AD and other eczemas. Skindex-29, Skindex-teen, and the Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale (CADIS) were the instruments used to assess QOL in adults, teenagers, and children, respectively. The SF-12 was also used, and disease severity was evaluated using the Patient-Oriented SCORAD (PO-SCORAD) instrument. Associations with QOL were assessed based on the odds ratio (OR). P values <.05 and 95%CIs were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study population comprised 162 participants aged 0.5-74 years. We found that 37.3% of AD patients consider their disease disabling and that more than half of the patients feel stigmatized by society. The mean Skindex score for AD was 39.68, and the impact on QOL was severe in 44%. "Symptoms" was the most affected category in adults. AD was moderate to severe in 87% of the sample. One of the factors that most influenced poorer QOL in AD was age: with increasing age, the Skindex is likely to increase (OR, 1.03; 95%CI, 1.00-1.06). "Considering the disease a disability" was also associated (OR, 6.72; 95%CI, 2.56-17.63). QOL worsens with increasingly affected body area (OR, 1.07; 95%CI, 1.03-1.11) and the presence of edema (OR, 2.0; 95%CI, 1.23-3.40). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to provide data on QOL in patients with AD in Portugal. Our data show an expected negative impact. More awareness-raising activities are needed to increase knowledge, decrease stigmatization, and, consequently, address the factors involved in the QOL of patients with AD

OBJETIVOS: Investigar la calidad de vida (QOL) y caracterizar a los pacientes con dermatitis atópica (AD) en Portugal. MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio transversal de pacientes con AD y otros eczemas. Skindex-29, Skindex-teen y Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale (CADIS) fueron los instrumentos utilizados para evaluar la QOL en adultos, adolescentes y niños, respectivamente. También se utilizó el SF-12 y se evaluó la gravedad de la enfermedad a través del SCORAD Orientado por el paciente (PO-SCORAD). Las asociaciones con la QOL se evaluaron según la odds ratio (OR). El IC del 95% y los valores de p <0,05 se consideraron estadísticamente significativos. RESULTADOS: La población del estudio comprendió 162 participantes de entre 0,5 y 74 años. Encontramos que el 37,3% de los pacientes con DA consideran su enfermedad como incapacitante y más de la mitad de los pacientes con DA se sienten estigmatizados por la sociedad. La puntuación media de Skindex para la AD fue de 39,68 y el impacto en la QOL fue severo en el 44%. Síntomas"fue la categoría más afectada en los adultos. La DA fue de moderada a grave en el 87% de la muestra. Uno de los factores que más influyó en una peor calidad de vida en DA fue la edad: a medida que aumenta la edad, es probable que el Skindex aumente (OR: 1,03 [IC 95% 1,00-1,06]). "Considerar la enfermedad como discapacidad" también se asoció, OR: 6,72 (IC 95% 2,56-17,63). La calidad de vida también empeora con el área del cuerpo cada vez más afectada (OR: 1,07 [IC 95% 1,03-1,11] y OR: 2.04 [IC 95% 1,23-3,40], respectivamente). CONCLUSIONES: Este es el primer estudio que proporciona datos sobre la calidad de vida en pacientes con DA en Portugal. Nuestros datos muestran un impacto negativo esperado. Se necesitan más actividades de sensibilización para aumentar el conocimiento, disminuir el estigma y, en consecuencia, abordar los factores involucrados en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con DA

Streptococcus bovis spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a frequent cause of decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis. The authors describe the first two cases caused by infection with Streptococcus bovis. They suggest that this microorganism may be present in the intestinal flora of these patients more frequently than assumed. Furthermore, the course of SBP due to S. bovis may be particularly severe.

Platelets and hypersensitivity.

Platelets are anucleated blood cells not exclusively committed to hemostasis. They participate in inflammation, tissue repair, the immune response and hypersensitivity. In this review, the role of platelets in hypersensitivity is summarized. In order to understand the profound implications of these cells, the authors introduce the involvement of platelets in inflammation and immune reactions. Both the pathophysiology and the biology of the interaction of platelets with other cells are then summarized. These interactions justify the actual knowledge about the possibilities for the involvement of platelets in clinical states of hypersensitivity. Furthermore, the participation of platelets in allergy is supported by biological and clinical evidence, including in vitro studies of platelet activity in hypersensitivity states, the demonstration of platelet killing and the response to parasite contact, as well as animal studies in which the response to immune aggression is dependent on platelet reactivity. However, the need for more complete and developed clinical studies is clearly stressed, as several therapeutic approaches can already be proposed for a better control of these processes.