Changing patterns in the epidemiology of drug allergy.

Drug allergy (DA) remains a complex and unaddressed problem worldwide that often deprives patients of optimal medication choices and places them at risk for life-threatening reactions. Underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis are common and due to the lack of standardized definitions and biomarkers. The true burden of DA is unknown, and recent efforts in data gathering through electronic medical records are starting to provide emerging patterns around the world. Ten percent of the general population engaged in health care claim to have a DA, and the most common label is penicillin allergy. Up to 20% of emergency room visits for anaphylaxis are due to DA and 15%-20% of hospitalized patients report DA. It is estimated that DA will increase based on the availability and use of new and targeted antibiotics, vaccines, chemotherapies, biologicals, and small molecules, which are aimed at improving patient's options and quality of life. Global and regional variations in the prevalence of diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus and mycobacterial diseases, and the drugs used to treat these infections have an impact on DA. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the global impact of DA by presenting emerging data on drug epidemiology in adult and pediatric populations.

Aspirin desensitization following endoscopic sinus surgery is effective in patients with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease.

INTRODUCTION: Aspirin desensitization (AD) is effective in relieving asthma and sinonasal outcomes in patients with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD). So far, only a limited number of studies evaluated the effect of AD prospectively in a controlled manner in N-ERD. It is also a current approach to recommend endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) before AD. This study aimed to prospectively document the clinical effects of AD for 1 year in patients with N-ERD who underwent ESS in the presence of a control group. METHODS: The study included patients with N-ERD who underwent AD (group 1, n = 22) and patients with N-ERD in whom desensitization was indicated but was not performed (group 2, n = 21). All patients had ESS before enrollment in the study. Asthma and rhinosinusitis outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 1 year. RESULTS: The study included a total of 43 subjects (F/M:28/15, mean age: 44.7 ± 2.8 years). Fewer patients had nasal polyp recurrency in group 1 (5/22, 22.7%) than in group 2 (11/21, 52.3%) at the end of the first year (p = 0.035). Smell-test scores were preserved only in group 1 after 1 year. There were significant decreases in the use of both asthma and nasal medications only in group 1. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly support the use of AD for the improvement of both nasal and asthmatic outcomes in patients with N-ERD for 1 year. We also recommend patients undergo ESS before AD. Further controlled studies are necessary to evaluate whether this effect lasts longer.

Characteristics of asthma in an older adult population according to sex and control level: why are asthma symptoms in older women not well-controlled?

OBJECTIVE: The older adult population in Turkey has increased by 22.6% in the last 5 years, and the characteristics of such patients with asthma remain uninvestigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of older adults with asthma according to sex and asthma control status to provide an in-depth overview of asthma in this population in Turkey. METHODS: The data of older adults (age 65 years and over) with asthma were obtained from a multicenter, cross-sectional asthma database registry (Turkish Adult Asthma Registry, TAAR) funded by the Turkish Thoracic Society. Comparisons were made based on sex and asthma control levels using the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Asthma Symptom Control Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 2053 (11.5%) patients registered with the TAAR, 227 were older adults (median age, 69 (8), women, 75.8% (n = 172)). Of these, 46.5% (n = 101) had obesity to some degree. Compared with men, women had lower education, income levels, and employment rates. Additionally, women exhibited a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and thyroid gland disease than men. Being female (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.307-6.880), the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR: 2.855; 95% CI: 1.330-6.130), and a predicted forced expiratory volume in the first-second value lower than 80% (OR: 2.938; 95% CI: 1.451-5.948) were associated with poorly controlled asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, older adults comprised 11.5% of adult patients with asthma. Being female poses a disadvantage in terms of both asthma prevalence and control in the older adult asthmatic population owing to the prevalence of comorbidities and socioeconomic sex-related distinguishing factors.

What happens to basophils and tryptase, LXA4 and CysLTs during aspirin desensitization?

INTRODUCTION: Aspirin desensitization (AD) is an effective treatment in patients with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) by providing inhibitory effect on symptoms and polyp recurrence. However, limited data is available on how AD works. We aimed to study comprehensively the mechanisms underlying AD by examining basophil activation (CD203c upregulation), mediator-releases of tryptase, CysLT, and LXA4, and LTB4 receptor expression for the first 3 months of AD. METHODS: The study was conducted in patients with NERD who underwent AD (group 1: n = 23), patients with NERD who received no desensitization (group 2: n = 22), and healthy volunteers (group 3, n = 13). All participants provided blood samples for flow cytometry studies (CD203c and LTB4 receptor), and mediator releases (CysLT, LXA4, and tryptase) for the relevant time points determined. RESULTS: All baseline parameters of CD203c and LTB4 receptor expressions, tryptase, CysLT, and LXA4 releases were similar in each group (p > 0.05). In group 1, CD203c started to be upregulated at the time of reactions during AD, and continued to be high for 3 months when compared to controls. All other study parameters were comparable with baseline and at the other time points in each group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although basophils are active during the first 3 months of AD, no releases of CysLT, tryptase or LXA4 exist. Therefore, our results suggest that despite active basophils, inhibition of mediators can at least partly explain underlying the mechanism in the first three months of AD.

Picturing asthma in Turkey: results from the Turkish adult asthma registry.

INTRODUCTION: National data on asthma characteristics and the factors associated with uncontrolled asthma seem to be necessary for every country. For this purpose, we developed the Turkish Adult Asthma Registry for patients with asthma aiming to take a snapshot of our patients, thereby assigning the unmet needs and niche areas of intervention. METHODS: Case entries were performed between March 2018 and March 2022. A web-based application was used to record data. Study outcomes were demographic features, disease characteristics, asthma control levels, and phenotypes. RESULTS: The registry included 2053 patients from 36 study centers in Turkey. Female subjects dominated the group (n = 1535, 74.8%). The majority of the patients had allergic (n = 1158, 65.3%) and eosinophilic (n = 1174, 57.2%) asthma. Six hundred nineteen (32.2%) of the patients had obese asthma. Severe asthma existed in 670 (32.6%) patients. Majority of cases were on step 3-5 treatment (n: 1525; 88.1%). Uncontrolled asthma was associated with low educational level, severe asthma attacks in the last year, low FEV1, existence of chronic rhinosinusitis and living in particular regions. CONCLUSION: The picture of this registry showed a dominancy of middle-aged obese women with moderate-to-severe asthma. We also determined particular strategic targets such as low educational level, severe asthma attacks, low FEV1, and chronic rhinosinusitis to decrease uncontrolled asthma in our country. Moreover, some regional strategies may also be needed as uncontrolled asthma is higher in certain regions. We believe that these data will guide authorities to reestablish national asthma programs to improve asthma service delivery.

Diagnostic utility of basophil CD203c expression in ß-lactam allergy.

Background: A diagnosis of immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated reactions to ß-lactam (BL) antibiotics is still challenging because of the limited availability of skin-prick test (SPT), and standardization issues, particularly with newer BLs, are still ongoing. Because encouraging data are increasingly emerging in the use of basophil activation tests in the diagnosis of IgE-mediated drug hypersensitivity reactions, in this study, we aimed to determine CD203c expression, a basophil surface marker, in the diagnosis of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to BL antibiotics. Methods: This study included two groups of subjects. The first group (group 1) (n = 20) included patients with a diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy to BLs as confirmed through STs or drug provocation tests, and the control group consisted of healthy volunteers (group 2) (n = 24). Expression of CD203c by flow cytometry was studied in samples stimulated by two different concentrations of six different BL antibiotics. A stimulation index ≥ 2 was considered a positive response. Results: The study groups had comparable age and sex distribution. In the entire group, the sensitivity and specificity of CD203c were 29.4% (5 out of 17) and 82.6% (19 out of 23), respectively. When considering the single reactors, two among four patients who were allergic to amoxicillin demonstrated upregulation of CD203c with amoxicillin, which makes 50% sensitivity. The specificity was 100%. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that assessment of CD203c in the diagnosis of IgE-mediated reactions to BLs provided encouraging results, particularly with amoxicillin allergy. However, this finding needs to be verified in a larger number of cases.

Comparison of 300 mg versus 600 mg daily maintenance doses of aspirin treatment after desensitization in N-ERD: A three-year multicentre experience.

Background: Aspirin treatment after desensitization (ATAD) is effective in preventing nasal polyps recurrence as well as respiratory symptoms in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-exacerbated respiratory diseases (N-ERD). However, there is no consensus on effective daily maintenance doses in ATAD. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of two different maintenance doses of aspirin on clinical outcomes for 1-3 years of ATAD. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study that involved four tertiary centers. The maintenance doses of daily aspirin were 300 mg in one center and 600 mg in the remaining three. The data of patients who were on ATAD for 1-3 years were included. Study outcomes (nasal surgeries, sinusitis, asthma attacks, hospitalization, oral corticosteroid use, and medication uses) were assessed in a standardized way and recorded from case files. Results: The study initially included 125 subjects, 38 and 87 were receiving 300 and 600 mg daily aspirin for ATAD, respectively. Number of nasal polyp surgeries decreased after 1 -3 years compared with before ATAD in both groups (group 1, baseline: 0.44 ± 0.07 versus first year: 0.08 ± 0.05; p < 0.001 and baseline: 0.44 ± 0.07 versus 3rd year: 0.01 ± 0.01; p < 0.001; and group 2, baseline 0.42 ± 0.03 versus first year: 0.02 ± 0.02; p < 0.001 and baseline: 0.42 ± 0.03 versus 3rd year: 0.07 ± 0.03; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Given the comparable effects of 300 mg and 600 mg aspirin daily as maintenance treatment of ATAD on both asthma and sinonasal outcomes in N-ERD, our results suggest using 300 mg of aspirin daily in ATAD owing to its better safety profile.

Allergies and COVID-19 vaccines: An ENDA/EAACI Position paper.

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis, which is rare, has been reported after COVID-19 vaccination, but its management is not standardized. METHOD: Members of the European Network for Drug Allergy and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology interested in drug allergy participated in an online questionnaire on pre-vaccination screening and management of allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and literature was analysed. RESULTS: No death due to anaphylaxis to COVID-19 vaccines has been confirmed in scientific literature. Potential allergens, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polysorbate and tromethamine are excipients. The authors propose allergy evaluation of persons with the following histories: 1-anaphylaxis to injectable drug or vaccine containing PEG or derivatives; 2-anaphylaxis to oral/topical PEG containing products; 3-recurrent anaphylaxis of unknown cause; 4-suspected or confirmed allergy to any mRNA vaccine; and 5-confirmed allergy to PEG or derivatives. We recommend a prick-to-prick skin test with the left-over solution in the suspected vaccine vial to avoid waste. Prick test panel should include PEG 4000 or 3500, PEG 2000 and polysorbate 80. The value of in vitro test is arguable. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations will lead to a better knowledge of the management and mechanisms involved in anaphylaxis to COVID-19 vaccines and enable more people with history of allergy to be vaccinated.

Diagnosis and management of the drug hypersensitivity reactions in Coronavirus disease 19: An EAACI Position Paper.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory tract infection caused by a novel human coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, leads to a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic cases to patients with mild and severe symptoms, with or without pneumonia. Given the huge influence caused by the overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic affecting over three million people worldwide, a wide spectrum of drugs is considered for the treatment in the concept of repurposing and off-label use. There is no knowledge about the diagnosis and clinical management of the drug hypersensitivity reactions that can potentially occur during the disease. This review brings together all the published information about the diagnosis and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions due to current and candidate off-label drugs and highlights relevant recommendations. Furthermore, it gathers all the dermatologic manifestations reported during the disease for guiding the clinicians to establish a better differential diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity reactions in the course of the disease.

Towards a more precise diagnosis of hypersensitivity to beta-lactams - an EAACI position paper.

A recent survey of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Drug Allergy Interest Group (DAIG) on how European allergy specialists deal with beta-lactam (BL) hypersensitivity demonstrated a significant heterogeneity in current practice, suggesting the need to review and update existing EAACI guidelines in order to make the diagnostic procedures as safe and accurate, but also as cost-effective, as possible. For this purpose, a bibliographic search on large studies regarding BL hypersensitivity diagnosis was performed by an EAACI task force, which reviewed and evaluated the literature data using the GRADE system for quality of evidence and strength of recommendation. The updated guidelines provide a risk stratification in BL hypersensitivity according to index reaction(s), as well as an algorithmic approach, based on cross-reactivity studies, in patients with a suspicion of BL hypersensitivity and an immediate need for antibiotic therapy, when referral to an allergist is not feasible. Furthermore, the update addresses availability and concentrations of skin test (ST) reagents, ST and drug provocation test (DPT) protocols, and diagnostic algorithms and administration of alternative BL in allergic subjects. Specifically, distinct diagnostic algorithms are suggested depending on risk stratification of the patient into high and low risk based on the morphology and chronology of the reaction, immediate (ie, occurring within 1-6 hours after the last administered dose) or nonimmediate (ie, occurring more than 1 hour after the initial drug administration), and the reaction severity. Regarding the allergy workup, the main novelty of this document is the fact that in some low-risk nonimmediate reactions ST are not mandatory, especially in children. For DPT, further studies are necessary to provide data supporting the standardization of protocols, especially of those regarding nonimmediate reactions, for which there is currently no consensus.

A EAACI drug allergy interest group survey on how European allergy specialists deal with ß-lactam allergy.

An accurate diagnosis of ß-lactam (BL) allergy can reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to investigate the availability of BL reagents, their use and test procedures in different parts of Europe, as well as any differences in the diagnostic workups for evaluating subjects with BL hypersensitivity. A survey was emailed to all members of the EAACI Drug Allergy Interest Group (DAIG) between February and April 2016, and the questionnaire was meant to study the management of suspected BL hypersensitivity. The questionnaire was emailed to 82 DAIG centres and answered by 57. Amoxicillin alone or combined to clavulanic acid were the most commonly involved BL except in the Danish centre, where penicillin V was the most frequently suspected BL. All centres performed an allergy workup in subjects with histories of hypersensitivity to BL: 53 centres (93%) followed DAIG guidelines, two national guidelines and two local guidelines. However, there were deviations from DAIG recommendations concerning allergy tests, especially drug provocation tests. A significant heterogeneity exists in current practice not only among countries, but also among centres within the same country. This suggests the need to re-evaluate, update and standardize protocols on the management of patients with suspected BL allergy.

Omalizumab in non-allergic Asthma: A report of 13 cases.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding the effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with non-allergic asthma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and functional effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with non-allergic asthma. METHODS: The study was a single-center, retrospective chart review of patients with non-allergic asthma who were treated with add-on omalizumab between February 2014 and March 2016. After omalizumab was started, data of the asthma control test (ACT), pulmonary function test, and daily oral corticosteroid (OCS) dosage were collected at baseline, 16 weeks, 1 year, 2 and 3 years (if available). The number of exacerbations/hospitalizations were collected 1 year prior to and 6 months/1 year after omalizumab. To calculate the total daily dosage of OCS in milligrams, data for 6 months/1 year prior and after omalizumab treatment were recorded. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included. After omalizumab, the mean ACT was significantly increased at 16 weeks (n = 13, p = 0.002), 1 year (n = 7, p = 0.006), and 2 years (n = 5, p = 0.006). The mean daily OCS dose was significantly decreased at 16 weeks (n = 13, p = 0.001), 1 year (n = 7, p = 0.006), and 2 years (n = 5, p = 0.04). The mean number of exacerbations and hospitalizations were decreased at the 6th month (n = 13; p = 0.001, p = 0.005) and 1st year (n = 7; p = 0.01, p = 0.02). The mean total quantity of OCS decreased 42% from 1.4 to 0.8 g in the six-month period prior to and post-omalizumab treatment (n = 6, p = 0.02) and decreased 76% from 3.8 to 0.9 g at 1 year in the pre vs. post-omalizumab treatment comparison (n = 7, p = 0.01). Six (46.2%) patients responded perfectly and seven (53.8%) partially responded to treatment. CONCLUSION: Omalizumab can be effective in non-atopic severe asthma.

Smoking attitudes of the patients with allergic rhinitis: a comparison with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Are there differences when only upper airways are involved?

INTRODUCTION: Despite the well documented relationship between lower airway diseases and smoking, there are limited data about smoking and allergic rhinitis (AR). In this study, we aimed to document the smoking behaviour and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure of the patients with AR in comparison with patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and healthy controls (HC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographics and disease characteristics were recorded from case files whereas smoking history, childhood and current exposures to ETS, as well as the smoking behaviors were investigated by a self reported questionnaire. RESULT: A total of 937 subjects comprising patients with AR (n= 252), asthma (n= 249), COPD (n= 188) and HCs (n= 248) were enrolled in the study. The rates of active smokers were 35% (HCs), 26% (COPD), 21% (AR), and 11% (asthma). Exposure to ETS while with friends was significantly higher among HCs and AR groups (p< 0.0001). The rate of willingness to quit smoking is high in AR patients (73%) but they did not determined about date of quiting. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that a significant number of patients with AR actively smoke and neither the patients with AR nor the people in their surroundings were sufficiently aware of the health hazards of smoking with AR. It seems necessary to inform patients with about the health effects of smoking on all respiratory tract diseases.

Does the medical diagnosis of occupational asthma coincide with the legal diagnosis?

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of occupational asthma (OA) is increasing worldwide. In this study, we first aimed to document the rate of diagnosis of OA among patients who were referred to our clinic from the Social Security Institution and the factors that affected diagnosis; secondly, we aimed to assess the consistency of the medical and legal diagnoses. METHODS: The study involved 132 consecutive patients who were referred to our clinic for the evaluation of OA between 2010 and 2015. Detailed workplace history, the tools used in the diagnosis such as peak expiratory flow (PEF) monitoring and bronchial provocation tests, and the final medical diagnosis were recorded from case files. RESULTS: Asthma was diagnosed in 75% (n = 99) of the patients. Among them, 22.2% were diagnosed as having OA. The diagnosis was confirmed by serial PEF measurements, non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity assessment or both of the tests both at work and off-work periods. OA diagnosis was mostly established in active workers (72.7%). The legal diagnosis period was completed in 54.5% of these 22 patients, and 50% (n = 11) were officially diagnosed as having OA with a 91.6% concordance with medical diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study verifies the importance of diagnosing asthma correctly as a first step in the evaluation of OA. Diagnostic tests other than specific provocation tests could be preferential in patients who still work in the same field. We believe that cooperation with the patient's occupational physician and adequate recognition of the work environment will improve the consistency of legal and medical diagnoses.

Evaluation of drug provocation test-related anxiety in patients with drug hypersensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Drug provocation tests (DPTs) are important in the treatment of patients with drug hypersensitivity (DH), but they carry certain hypersensitivity reaction risks, which lead to procedure-related concerns in patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate DPT-related anxiety and its effect on long-term use of tested drugs. METHODS: The study included patients who underwent DPT from July 1, 2009, to July 1, 2012. After recording the patients' history and characteristics, a variety of psychiatric (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Panic and Agoraphobia Scale, and the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory) and quality-of-life (36-item Short Form Health Survey) tests were performed. DPT-related anxiety was also evaluated using a visual analog scale. The patients were requestioned about whether they had used the tested drug within 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients were included in the study. According to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 23.4% and 30.6% of the patients had depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The mean (SD) visual analog scale anxiety scores after a negative DPT result were lower than those before DPTs (2 [2.5] after vs 5.2 [3.4] before; P < .001). In the long term, 15.9% of the patients did not use the drug because of ongoing anxiety related to drug reactions, despite negative DPT results and symptoms indicated for use of the drug. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that DPTs in themselves cause significant anxiety in patients with DH. Importantly, anxiety levels decreased after a negative test result. However, our results also suggested that a negative DPT result is not convincing enough for some patients to use the tested drug when needed in the future. Therefore, supporting strategies appear to be the most effective way to eliminate DH-related anxiety of patients.

Omalizumab in the treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: One center's experience with 14 cases.

BACKGROUND: Omalizumab has been a valuable option for patients with severe allergic asthma, but there are only case reports regarding effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and functional effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with asthma and ABPA in long-term follow-up. METHODS: The study was conducted as a retrospective chart review of patients with ABPA who were treated with omalizumab injections between December 2008 and June 2014. Once treatment with omalizumab was started, data were collected at three time points: at baseline, after 1 year, and, in June 2014, at the last follow-up. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with ABPA (seven women and seven men; mean [± standard deviation (SD)] age, 44.21 ± 13.01 years) were included. The treatment period was 31.5 ± 3.99 months (mean ± SD). The difference between the baseline and the last evaluation of the mean percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was significant (p = 0.02). The mean asthma control test score was increased at all-time points compared with the basal score (p = 0.001). After omalizumab treatment was initiated, the patients' mean oral corticosteroid dosage significantly decreased (p = 0.001). The baseline exacerbation rate was 2.7 ± 1.5/y (mean ± SD), and the hospitalization rate was 1.4/y, and both were zero at the last assessment (p = 0.001). Eleven of the patients (78.6%) responded perfectly, and three (21.4%) partially responded to treatment. The patients who had a total immunoglobulin E level of <1000 IU/mL seemed to be more responsive than those whose total immunoglobulin E level was >1000 IU/mL (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Omalizumab provided a clinically important reduction in exacerbations and steroid requirement, and improved asthma symptoms and pulmonary function parameters in patients with asthma and ABPA who had previously shown an unsatisfactory response to Global Initiative for Asthma step 4 treatment.

[Acute exacerbation in COPD and asthma]. / KOAH ve astimda atak.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are airway diseases with acute exacerbations. Natural course of both disease are affected by exacerbations. COPD exacerbations may be caused by infections and other causes; indoor and outdoor pollution, cardiovascular diseases, asthma-COPD overlap syndrome, COPD- obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, pulmonary embolism, gastro-oesophageal reflux, anxiety-depression, pulmonary hypertension. Exposure to triggering factors, viral infections, treatment insufficiency may cause asthma exacerbations. Smoking cessations, prevention of infections, long-acting anticholinergics, long-acting 2 agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, mucolytics, prophilactic antibiotics can be effective on the prevention of COPD exacerbations. Asthma exacerbations may be decreased by the avoidance of allergens, viral infections, occupational exposures, airpollution, treatment of comorbid diseases. Effective treatment of asthma is required to prevent asthma exacerbations. Inhaled steroids and combined treatments are the most effective preventive therapy for exacerbations. Patient education and cooperation is an element of the preventive measures for asthma attacks. Compliance to therapy, inhalation techniques, written asthma plans are required. The essential of COPD and asthma exacerbation treatment is bronchodilator therapy. Steroids are also implemented to the therapy, targeting the inflammation. Specific treatments of the cause (infection, airpollution, pulmonary embolism etc.) should be administered.

[Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome]. / Astim-KOAH overlap Sendromu.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common lung diseases characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airway obstruction. Among patient with COPD and asthma; there is a group of patients with an overlap between clinical, functional characteristics and airway inflammation patterns, named "Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome" (ACOS). ACOS is a syndrome characterized by reversible but persistant airflow limitation (postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70%) which has some features of both asthma and COPD. ACOS should be suspected in a patient > 40 years, with smoking history, previous asthma diagnosis or history of childhood asthma who has persistant airflow limitation and reversible ariway obstruction (defined by an increase of > %12 of FEV1 pred or increase of FEV1 > 200 mL after inhalation of 400 mcg salbutamol or 1000 mcg terbutaline). The prevalence for ACOS has been reported 11-55% in different case series to date and increases by age and is more frequent in females in different age groups. Patients with ACOS are younger than COPD patients and older than asthma patients. Frequent and severe exacerbations and related hospitalization and emergency room visits are common in ACOS and this causes an impaired quality of life. Current recommendations of guidelines for pharmacologic treatment of ACOS have been composed of a combination with optimal COPD and asthma treatment. Future therapeutic approaches should be based on endotypes. Clinical phenotype and underlying endotype driven clinical studies may be the base of ACOS guidelines.

[Treatment of severe asthma: expert opinion]. / Agir astim tedavisi: uzman görüsü

Severe asthmatics account 10% of the all asthmatic population. Those asthmatics whose disease is inadequately controlled account for up to half of the cost for asthma, because they have more emergency room visits, more hospital admission and greater absenteeism from work. New therapeutic options were tried in those patients whose asthma was uncontrolled with standart high dose inhaled corticosteroid and long acting beta-2 agonsit combination therapy. In this paper taking into account the conditions of our country, current literature was reviewed and treatment options was discussed and graded recommendations are made for daily clinical practice in patients with severe treatment-refractory asthma.

Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap: Results from a national-multicenter study.

Introduction: Patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) have a greater disease burden than those with COPD or asthma alone. In this study, it was aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical features of ACO because there are limited national data in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a cross-sectional design in nine tertiary-care hospitals. The patients followed with a diagnosis of asthma or COPD for at least one year were enrolled in the study. The frequency of ACO and the characteristics of the patients were evaluated in the asthma and COPD groups. Result: The study included 408 subjects (F/M= 205/203, mean age= 56.24 ± 11.85 years). The overall prevalence of ACO in both groups was 20.8% (n= 85). The frequency was higher in the COPD group than in the asthma group (n= 55; 33.3% vs. n= 22; 9.8%), respectively (p= 0.001). Patients with ACO had similarities to patients with COPD in terms of advanced age, sex, smoking, exposure to biomass during childhood, being born in rural areas, and radiologic features. Characteristics such as a history of childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis, presence of chronic sinusitis, NSAID hypersensitivity, atopy, and high eosinophil counts were similar to those of patients with asthma (p<0.001). The annual decline in FEV1 was more prominent in the ACO group (mean= -250 mL) than in the asthma (mean change= -60 mL) and COPD (mean change= -230 mL) groups (p= 0.003). Conclusions: This study showed that ACO was common among patients with asthma and COPD in tertiary care clinics in our country. ACO should be considered in patients with asthma and COPD who exhibit the abovementioned symptoms.