Efficacy of dupilumab for the treatment of severe skin disease in cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 insufficiency: A role of type 2 inflammation?

We report on the successful treatment of a severe, recalcitrant dermatitis caused by CTLA-4 insufficiency with dupilumab, raising the possibility of a role of type 2 immunity in clinical conditions associated with CTLA-4 insufficiency.

Type I and type IIb autoimmune chronic spontaneous urticaria: Using common clinical tools for endotyping patients with CSU.

Background: Mechanisms triggering the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) have been identified as type I autoallergic (which is associated with IgE antibodies against autoantigens) and type IIb autoimmune (which is driven by autoantibodies to FceR1 and/or IgE). Objective: Our aim was to define presumptive endotypes in patients with CSU by using tests amenable to use in routine clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 394 patients with CSU with or without chronic inducible urticaria or angioedema was performed. Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 groups as follows: (1) type I endotype of CSU, if they presented at least 1 of the following: allergic disease, total IgE level of at least 40UI/mL, and positive result of skin tests to inhalant allergen(s), (2) type IIb endotype of CSU, if they presented at least 1 of following: autoimmune disease, low total IgE level less than 40 IU/mL, positive autologous serum skin test result, positive for antinuclear antibodies in a titer of at least 1:160, and elevated level of anti-thyroid peroxidase, (3) overlap of type I/type IIb endotypes of CSU, if they presented with at least 1 marker of both type I and type IIb, and (4) non-type I/type IIb endotype of CSU, if they presented with none of the markers of type I or type IIb. Results: The mean age at onset of symptoms was 34 years; 82.2% of those with CSU were female, and angioedema and chronic inducible urticaria were found in 74.8% and 31.9% of patients, respectively. Of the patients with CSU, 38% presented with the type I endotype and 51% presented with type I/type IIb overlap, whereas 9% presented with the type IIb endotype and 2% presented with the non-type I/type IIb endotype. Eosinopenia was associated with type IIb and type I/type IIb overlap as opposed to the type I and non-type I/type IIb endotypes (P = .02). Conclusions: Most patients with CSU presented with features of the type 1 (autoallergic) endotype, whether associated with type IIb (autoimmune) endotype or not.

Aspectos práticos no diagnóstico e manejo das reações de hipersensibilidade a fármacos / Practical aspects in the diagnosis and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions

As reações de hipersensibilidade a fármacos (RHF) podem ser de natureza alérgica ou não alérgica, e correspondem a aproximadamente 15% de todas as reações adversas a fármacos (RAF). As reações alérgicas são mediadas por mecanismo imune, não previsíveis, podendo ser grave se até mesmo fatais, ou requererem internações hospitalares prolongadas. Erros na classificação das RHF ocorrem com frequência, principalmente quando o diagnóstico é baseado apenas na história clínica (superdiagnóstico) ou quando as reações não são documentadas de maneira apropriada (subdiagnóstico). O diagnóstico inadequado pode levar à exclusão desnecessária, com diminuição das opções terapêuticas, e ao uso de fármacos alternativos ineficazes e/ou de custo elevado. Os grupos de fármacos mais comumente envolvidos em reações de hipersensibilidade são os betalactâmicos e os anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais (AINEs). Consensos atuais preconizam uma investigação diagnóstica sistematizada das RHF através da realização de testes cutâneos, laboratoriais e testes de provocação, direcionados por uma história clínica detalhada. O objetivo do presente estudo é abordar aspectos práticos do diagnóstico e manejo das reações de hipersensibilidade a fármacos, com ênfase aos betalactâmicos e AINEs, de acordo com os estudos e consensos atuais...

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) may be classified as allergic or non-allergic, and they correspond to approximately 15% of all adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Allergic reactions are non-predictable and mediated by immune mechanisms; they may be severe and even life threatening, or may require prolonged hospitalization. Misclassification of DHRs is frequent, especially when diagnosis is based only on medical history (overdiagnosis), or when reactions are not properly documented (underdiagnosis). An incorrect diagnosis may lead to unnecessary exclusion of drugs, reducing treatment options, as well as to the use of alternative ineffective and/or expensive medications. Beta-lactam and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the groups most commonly involved in DHRs. Current guidelines recommend a systematic diagnostic investigation of DHRs using skin, laboratory, and provocations tests, guided by a detailed medical history. The aim of this study was to address practical aspects of the diagnosis and management of DHRs, with a focus on beta-lactam and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to current studies and consensuses...

Influence of povidone-iodine preoperative showers on skin colonization in elective plastic surgery procedures.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative showering with antiseptic skin cleansers is common in elective operations, although the value of this procedure in reducing surgical wound infections has not been established. The authors designed a prospective study to assess the influence of povidone-iodine preoperative showers on skin colonization in elective plastic surgery procedures. METHODS: Patients older than 18 years scheduled for elective and clean plastic surgery procedures on the thorax or abdomen were assigned randomly to the povidone-iodine group (n = 57) or to a control group (n = 57). Patients allocated to the povidone-iodine group took a shower with liquid detergent-based povidone-iodine 10% 2 hours before surgery. For the control group, no special instructions for showering were implemented before surgery. Quantitative skin cultures were obtained just before the preoperative scrub in the operating room. Samples were plated on hypertonic mannitol agar, blood agar, Sabouraud agar with chloramphenicol, and eosin-methylene blue agar. Samples were collected and processed, and results were assessed by blinded investigators. RESULTS: Staphylococcal skin colonization was significantly lower in the povidone-iodine group (p < 0.001). No microorganism growth was observed on 33 percent of the postshower skin cultures from patients in the povidone-iodine shower group compared with 0 percent of the cultures from patients in the control group. Colonies of fungi and enterobacteria were recovered in small amounts in both groups, and povidone-iodine showers did not significantly reduce skin colonization by these microorganisms. CONCLUSION: Single preoperative povidone-iodine showers are effective in reducing staphylococcal skin colonization before elective clean plastic surgical procedures on the thorax and abdomen.