Sublingual immunotherapy with a standardized cat dander extract: evaluation of efficacy in a double blind placebo controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) using extracts derived from mammalian epithelia. OBJECTIVES: To assess clinical efficacy of cat SLIT based on natural exposure challenge test (NCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty cat allergic patients with rhinoconjunctivitis with or without asthma were included in a randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of cat SLIT during 1 year. Twenty-five patients received active treatment and 25 placebo. Sublingual immunotherapy efficacy was assessed by natural exposure challenge to a cat in a cat-room and by skin tests. Airborne Fel d 1 levels, symptom scores and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values were monitored. RESULTS: Thirty-three (66%) out of 50 patients completed the treatment. Fel d 1 content of the maximum concentration was 0.51 microg per ml. During the build up phase, the accumulated dose was 1.7 mug of Fel d 1 and during the entire length of the study was 17.1. No adverse reports were reported. The active group showed a marked reduction (62%) in symptoms during the NCT (P < 0.001) with no changes in placebo group. Active group also showed a reduced PEF response to cat exposure (P < 0.05), and an improvement in skin test reactivity to a standardized cat extract (P < 0.05), without significant changes in placebo group. Mean Fel d 1 exposure during the NCT was 6.2 +/- 2.21 ng/m(3). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the cat SLIT used in this study was able to improve cat allergy based on natural exposure challenge.

The role of profilin and lipid transfer protein in strawberry allergy in the Mediterranean area.

BACKGROUND: In contrast to other Rosaceae fruit, only few cases of patients with adverse reactions to strawberry are listed in literature. OBJECTIVE To identify allergenic proteins in strawberry and to express and characterize recombinant strawberry lipid transfer protein (LTP; rFra a 3). METHODS: Established apple-allergic patients were recruited on the basis of a reported allergic reaction to strawberry (n=28, confirmed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge in four patients) or on the basis of IgE reactivity to LTP (n=34). Sensitization to purified natural and recombinant allergens was assessed by RAST, immunoblot (inhibition) and basophil histamine release (BHR). A strawberry cDNA library was screened for genes homologous to known fruit allergens. Fra a 3 was cloned and expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris and compared with peach and apple LTP by RAST, immunoblot-inhibition and BHR tests. RESULTS: Genes homologous to Bet v 1, Bet v 6, profilin and LTP were identified in a strawberry cDNA library. In BHR the rFra a 3 induced histamine release at a 100-fold higher concentration than peach LTP. RAST inhibition showed high cross-reactivity to peach and apple LTP, although IgE reactivity was lower by a factor 5. On strawberry immunoblot, patients' IgE showed reactivity to a Bet v 1 homologue, profilin, LTP and high-molecular weight bands. CONCLUSION: In addition to a Bet v 1 homologue, strawberry also contains IgE-binding profilin and LTP. The rFra a 3 has less allergenic potency than peach and apple LTP, and therefore is an interesting tool for future immunotherapy. Fra a 3 does not seem to be clinically relevant.

Diagnostic approach and management of occupational asthma by persulfate salts in a hairdresser.

An 18-year-old female hairdresser, nonsmoker and nonatopic, developed rhinoconjunctivitis followed by asthma after working for 18 months. The methods that were necessary to obtain a definitive diagnosis of occupational asthma are explained, as well as the medical management performed to improve her asthma over the next 12 months. Tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were determined before and after specific bronchial challenge. The application of these parameters as complementary diagnostic methods in some cases of occupational asthma is described. Clinical and functional control performed some months later demonstrated an increase in nonspecific bronchial responsiveness after avoidance, likely related to an upper respiratory infection.