Meloxicam and/or Etoricoxib Could Be Administered Safely in Two Equal Doses during an Open Oral Challenge in Patients with Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Hypersensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common. These patients require an effective and safe analgesic alternative. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the safety of meloxicam and etoricoxib administered by open oral challenge in 2 equal steps in patients with NSAID hypersensitivity. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study of patients with a diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity who underwent an oral drug provocation test (DPT) with meloxicam or etoricoxib between January 2011 and August 2017 was conducted. The analysis was performed from a database in BD Clinic. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-eight oral provocations were performed with an alternative NSAID (203 with meloxicam and 25 with etoricoxib) in 217 patients with hypersensitivity to NSAIDs. The median age was 38 years. Ninety-eight percent of meloxicam and 100% of etoricoxib DPTs were performed in 2 steps (without previous placebo), and 52% and 64% of meloxicam and etoricoxib DPTs, respectively, were performed with 50% of the therapeutic dose in each step. Tolerance to meloxicam was demonstrated in 192 patients (94.5%) and in 100% of patients receiving etoricoxib. CONCLUSIONS: Open oral provocation with meloxicam and etoricoxib carried out in 2 steps without placebo seems to be safe and implies less costs and less time expenditure. Also, it could be performed with 2 equal doses.

Descriptive analysis of a simplified approach to low-risk drug hypersensitivity reactions.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of drug allergy is intricate because of nonstandardized testing and challenge method variability. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of a large group of patients with suspected drug allergies who underwent 1 or more provocation tests (PT), and to establish whether performing this test in fewer steps is safe and effective. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in patients with suspected drug allergies who underwent a provocation test at the allergy service of Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia, from January 2011 to August 2017. RESULTS: A total of 508 patients underwent 615 PTs; the median age was 34.5 years (range, 1-87 years) and 332 were women (65.3%). The most frequently implicated drugs were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 362 patients (58.9%), followed by beta-lactam antibiotics in 170 (27.6%), and non-beta-lactam antibiotics in 21 (3.4%). The most typically described manifestations were cutaneous urticaria in 282 patients (45.8%) and angioedema in 220 (35.7%). Most patients underwent the PT without performing other previous tests, which were done in only 92 patients (18.3%). Skin prick tests and intradermal reaction tests were performed in 81 patients (15%); all results were negative. In 519 patients (84.3%), the PT was performed in 2 steps without a placebo. Of the PTs performed in 2 steps, 492 (94.8%) had negative results. In addition, PT was performed in 195 patients (37.6%) in whom 2 equal doses of the drug was administered; 186 patients (95.4%) had negative results. CONCLUSION: Performing an open PT (without previous tests) in 2 steps among patients with low-risk drug reactions is safe. However, every case must be analyzed individually in terms of the risk-benefit ratio.

Multicentric and Observational Study of Omalizumab for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria in Real-Life in Colombia.

Background: Although chronic urticaria (CU) is a common, cause of medical consulting both in general practitioners and allergist specialists worldwide, there is little information about its behavior and management in Latin America. Currently, national and international guidelines recommend using Omalizumab for cases refractory to management with antihistamines. Despite advances in the knowledge of Omalizumab for the management of CU, although there are few studies in underdeveloped countries, there are many studies evaluating the impact of Omalizumab treatment. There is not clinical information related with CSU-Omalizumab in patient settled in the Caribbean area. This research aims to evaluate the management of CU with Omalizumab in a real-life scenario in Colombia. Methodology: We conducted an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study with patient recruitment between 2014 and 2017 of individuals diagnosed with Chronic Urticaria (CU) treating allergology specialists in five Colombian cities. We included patients with CU who failed to achieve disease control after treatment for 4 weeks with fourfold doses of second-generation H1-antihistamines, as recommended by the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines and who received treatment with Omalizumab. Results: We included 123 patients, 73.1% (n = 90) were women. The mean age was 47.1 years (Standard Deviation, SD: 16.2). The median of the total months of disease evolution was 30 (IQR = 13-58). 81.3 % (n = 100) of patients were diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticarial (CSU). 4.8% (n = 6) had inducible CU (CIndU), and 13.8% (n = 17) reported mixed urticaria (spontaneous CU with at least one inducible component). Regarding emotional factors, 34.9% (n = 43) of subjects indicated anxiety symptoms, 34.1% (n = 42) had exacerbations associated with stress, and 14.6% (n = 18) manifested episodes of sadness. The percentage of patients with CSU controlled according to medical criteria at 3 months with Omalizumab were 80% (n = 80/100) and at 6 months 87% (n = 87/100). The frequency of adverse events was 29.2% (n = 36), with headache being the most frequent adverse event. Conclusions: This real-life study with Omalizumab at CU describes percentages of effectiveness and safety similar to those observed in pivotal and real-life studies conducted in other regions around the world.

[Flagellate dermatitis caused by the intake of shiitake mushrooms. A case report and review of the literature]. / Dermatitis flagelada por setas shiitake. Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND: Flagellate dermatitis caused by the intake of shiitake mushrooms is characterized by linear erythematous lesions that are intensely pruritic. It is common in countries where the consumption of mushrooms is high, but it is rare in Latin America. It can be difficult to diagnose as there is a delay between the intake of the mushroom and the eruption. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of hypothyroidism who, 48 hours after the intake of shiitake mushrooms, developed intense itching associated with the appearance of linear and erythematous lesions, in a "flagellate-like" pattern, predominantly on the trunk, without other signs or symptoms. There was no history of recent exposure to drugs. She was treated with oral antihistamine and topical corticosteroid, however, without improvement, which is why a short cycle of oral corticosteroid was required, with which her lesions were resolved. A shiitake-free diet was indicated. CONCLUSIONS: Flagellate dermatitis is a toxicoderma that is associated with the intake of shiitake mushrooms among other things. Its clinical presentation is characteristic, although its exact pathophysiology is not fully understood. The boom of Asian food in Latin America might lead to an increase in the number of cases; hence the importance of knowing about its existence.

Antecedentes: La dermatitis flagelada por setas shiitake se caracteriza por lesiones eritematosas lineales muy pruriginosas. Es común en países con alto consumo de hongos, pero poco frecuente en Latinoamérica. Puede ser difícil de diagnosticar debido al retraso en la aparición de las erupciones después de la ingesta del hongo. Caso clínico: Mujer caucásica de 49 años, con antecedente de hipotiroidismo, quien 48 horas después de la ingesta de setas shiitake desarrolló prurito intenso asociado a lesiones lineales, eritematosas, con patrón de flagelación, predominantes en tronco, sin otros signos ni síntomas. No había historia de exposición reciente a medicamentos. Recibió antihistamínico oral y corticoide tópico sin mejoría, por lo que requirió ciclo corto de corticoide oral, con el cual se resolvieron las lesiones. Se le indicó evitar el consumo del hongo en la dieta. Conclusiones: La dermatitis flagelada constituye una toxicodermia asociada, entre otras cosas, al consumo de setas shiitake. Su presentación clínica es característica, aunque su fisiopatología no está completamente entendida. El auge de la comida oriental en Latinoamérica podría incrementar el número de casos, de ahí la importancia de conocer esta toxicodermia.