The efficacy of step-down therapy in adult patients with proton pump inhibitor-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitor-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE) is common in patients with suspected eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). However, the long-term efficacy of PPIs and the best maintenance doses are yet to be defined. AIM: To evaluate the durability of the response to PPI therapy after tapering PPI doses in PPI-REE patients. METHODS: Prospective study conducted on PPI-REE patients. Upon complete remission on high-dose PPI therapy (omeprazole 40 mg b.d. for 8 weeks), PPI doses were tapered followed by an endoscopic procedure after each dose reduction. The primary outcomes were sustained clinical and histological remission (<15 eos/HPF) after decreasing PPI doses. RESULTS: From a total of 121 patients with suspected EoE, 40 (33%) achieved complete remission on high-dose PPIs and were given a diagnosis of PPI-REE. No patient in histological remission showed symptom relapse, but half of patients with relapsing oesophageal inflammation were in clinical remission. After reduction to omeprazole 40 mg once daily, 38/31 (81%) remained in complete remission. Among these latter patients, 15/18 (83%) were kept in remission with omeprazole 20 mg once daily. As for side effects, only asymptomatic hypertransaminasemia and oesophageal candidiasis were observed in two patients while receiving high doses of omeprazole. CONCLUSIONS: Most PPI-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia patients show sustained clinical and histological remission with daily PPI doses equal to or below 40 mg of omeprazole. As adverse effects only appeared with the highest dose of omeprazole, it would be advisable to individualise the dose of PPIs for each patient, lowering it to the minimum capable of maintaining the disease controlled.

Demographic, clinical and allergological characteristics of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in a Spanish central region

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory emerging disease of the oesophagus with immunoallergic aetiology. The allergens involved have not been clearly defined and may depend on the exposure of the population to aeroallergens or food antigens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with EoE between 2006 and 2011 were referred to our Allergy Section. Patch and skin prick tests (SPT) with aeroallergens and foods were performed, and total and specific IgE levels, eosinophil cationic protein levels and eosinophil count were determined. RESULTS: 43 patients were included. 36 (83.7%) were atopic. 29 patients presented choking, 19 dysphagia, 9 food impaction with urgent endoscopy, 4 chest pain, 1 isolated vomiting and 1 epigastric pain. 22 had two or more symptoms. The mean duration of symptoms was 3.73 years. Concomitant allergic diseases included rhinoconjunctivitis and/or asthma (31 patients), IgE food allergy (21 patients) and atopic dermatitis (3 patients).32 (74%) were sensitized to aeroallergens, of which 90% were sensitized to pollens; 23 (54%) showed positive tests to foods and 12 of them (52%) to lipid transfer proteins (LTP).Of the 29 pollen-allergic patients, 15 (52%) were sensitized to plant foods and 10 (34.4%) to LTP. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support those reported in the literature: the disease is more common in men aged 30-40 years with at least a three-year history of symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, sensitized to pollens, the predominant aeroallergen in our area, but also to plant foods or panallergens. These results increase the evidence for an immunoallergic aetiology and can help us in the early diagnosis of EoE

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Tolerance of a cluster schedule on the treatment of seasonal allergic respiratory disease with pollen extracts quantified in mass units.

In order to evaluate the tolerance of a cluster schedule on specific immunotherapy (SIT), 306 patients were included in a multicenter study. The patients were suffering from rhinoconjunctivitis with/without asthma, caused by sensitization to olive and/or grass pollen. SIT was administered subcutaneously according to a cluster schedule in which the maintenance dose is reached after four visits (3 weeks). The extracts were biologically standardized with major allergens quantified in mass units. Local reactions appeared in 7.2% of the patients and 1.3% of the doses. Systemic reactions (SR) were recorded in 1.2% of the doses administered to 9.5% of the patients. No anaphylactic shock was registered, and all the SR responded fully and rapidly to treatment. There was no difference in SR according to diagnosis or allergen extract used. The majority of SR occurred with the administration of vial of higher concentration (Vial 2: 7 SR (22%), Vial 3: 32 SR (78%), p < 0.05). Of the 32 SR recorded with Vial 3, 13 (41%) were immediate, with no existing association between dose administered and appearance of SR. However, of the 18 delayed SR (56%), 14 occurred after the administration of the first two doses of Vial 3 and four occurred after administration of the second two doses (78% vs 22%, p < 0.05). On the other hand, this regime realized an important saving in cost and time compared to the conventional schedule (1581 fewer doses and 2754 fewer visits were necessary to reach the optimal dose). Considering all these factors, the clinical profile of the proposed regime may be qualified as good. However, future studies are necessary in order to better adjust the schedule to avoid the delayed SR that occurred after the administration of the first two doses of Vial 3.

Allergic contact urticaria from raw potato.

A 19-year-old man exhibited symptoms of immediate urticaria and angioedema related to contact with raw potato. A prick-by-prick test with potato pulp and rub test were positive. Specific IgE to potato was positive (class 2).