A Comparison of Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Tests Using Allergen-Specific IgE Concentration and Intradermal Skin Tests in Atopic Horses With Pollen Allergy.

Intradermal tests (IDTs) and measurement of specific immunoglobulin E class (sIgE) levels in sera are the most common and reliable methods used in allergological clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore the sensitization of pollen allergy in atopic horses with pollinosis and to assess the diagnostic value of the multiple allergen simultaneous tests (MASTs) compared with that of the IDT. Twenty-one Malopolski horses with typical skin hypersensitivity symptoms during pollen seasons were enrolled. Intradermal tests were performed, and allergen-specific IgE concentrations in sera were measured using a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody to pollens of grass, weeds, trees, and cultivated plants. The highest sensitization rate was for Secale cereale (IDT, 76%; MAST, 66.7%), grass (IDT, 71%; MAST, 57%), and Brassica napus (IDT, 52.4%; MAST, 57%). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) showed that Betula spp., Alnus spp., and Corylus spp. had the highest AUC at 0.854, followed by Secale cereale (AUC = 0.796), Plantago lanceolata (AUC = 0.726), Brassica napus (AUC = 0.704), and a grass allergen mixture (AUC = 0.695). The mean AUC for all allergens was 0.712 (0.604-0.867). The overall sensitivity of the sIgE plant horse panel was 78% (range, 68%-90%), the specificity was 86.3% (range, 64%-100%), and the accuracy was 79% (range, 64%-87%). Statistical kappa (κ) agreement between the MAST and IDT was reached for tree (κ = 0.767), rye (κ = 0.687), colza (κ = 0.671), and grass (κ = 0.664) pollen. The MAST showed a favorable agreement with the IDT and can be used for the detection of sIgE in atopic horses with pollinosis.

The influence of treatment with lokivetmab on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in dogs with spontaneously occurring atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common skin diseases in dogs. Monitoring the progress of treatment may include assessment of lesion severity by use of Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI), assessment of pruritus and measurement of biophysical parameters of the skin. HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to assess changes in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) during 12 weeks of treatment with lokivetmab and its correlation with the CADESI-04 and the severity of pruritus. ANIMALS: Ten client-owned dogs with canine AD. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The animals were administered lokivetmab three times at four week intervals. Pruritus and CADESI-04 were assessed, and TEWL was measured at six body regions, on Day 0 and repeated at weeks 4, 8 and 12. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the CADESI-04 score, the severity of pruritus and the mean TEWL between baseline and each of the time points. TEWL also decreased in the majority of body sites examined. Significant correlations between the CADESI-04 and mean TEWL (r = 0.519, P = 0.0003), and between pruritus severity and mean TEWL (r = 0.517, P = 0.0003), were found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Overall TEWL decreased during lokivetmab treatment but not at all body sites. If TEWL is used to assess the effectiveness of a treatment, a mean TEWL score should be calculated from several areas of the body.

[The coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis - diagnostic and therapeutic problems].

The coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis is rarely observed in everyday clinical practice. Apart from providing a correct diagnosis, a major difficulty is to provide a proper treatment. In this case, for example, the use of systemic glucocorticosteroids may have a negative effect on the course of psoriasis, whereas phototherapy, which is widely practiced in psoriasis, may cause SLE exacerbation. The aim of the paper is to present the difficulty along the diagnostic process and in choosing the best type of treatment for patients with a coexistence of SLE and psoriasis and also a review of the subject-related literature.