Efficacy and effectiveness of omalizumab in the treatment of childhood asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds and inhibits free serum immunoglobulin E, a mediator involved in the clinical manifestations of allergic asthma. Evidence for its efficacy and safety in the treatment of moderate-to-severe allergic asthma is based primarily on studies in adolescents and adults. However, there is increasing evidence of its utility in children with allergic asthma aged 6-12 years. Areas covered: This article reviews efficacy, safety, and effectiveness of omalizumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe allergic asthma in children aged 6-12 years in clinical trials and in studies in clinical practice. Pharmacoeconomic aspects of its use among this population and the positioning of omalizumab in pediatric asthma management guidelines are also discussed. Additionally, an algorithm for the management of poorly controlled severe pediatric asthma in children older than 6 years is proposed. Electronic databases, such as PubMed, were searched for terms Asthma and Omalizumab and for asthma management guidelines. Expert commentary: Add-on omalizumab is an effective maintenance therapy in children aged 6-12 years with poorly controlled moderate-to-severe allergic asthma treated with medium-high inhaled corticosteroids doses and inhaled long-acting ß2-agonists. Omalizumab appears safe in children in both clinical trials and real-life setting and may be cost-effective.

Diagnostic evaluation of hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactam antibiotics in a large population of children.

INTRODUCTION: Hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactams (BLs) are often reported in children, with amoxicillin and, to a lesser extent, cephalosporins being the most frequent drugs involved. Although many of these children are considered to be allergic, a careful evaluation only confirms a low percentage. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the clinical data, sensitization profile and diagnostic methods used in a large group of children with a clinical history of hypersensitivity reactions to BLs. METHODS: The study included children aged 1-14 yr with symptoms suggestive of hypersensitivity to BLs from January 2006-December 2012. Diagnosis was confirmed from a clinical history, specific IgE determination, skin testing and, if necessary, a drug provocation test (DPT). RESULTS: Of a total of 783 patients studied, only 62 (7.92%) were confirmed as being allergic, 9 (14.52%) with immediate and 53 (85.48%) with non-immediate reactions. In those with immediate reactions, 2 (22.22%) were diagnosed by in vitro test, 2 (22.22%) by skin testing and 5 (55.56%) by DPT; in those with non-immediate reactions, 2 (3.77%) were diagnosed by skin testing and 51 (96.23%) by DPT. In all cases, DPT was positive to the culprit drug (29 AX-CLV, 26 AX, 1 cefixime and 1 cefaclor), and the most usual symptoms were exanthema in 43 cases, urticaria in 12, urticaria-angio-oedema in 1 and erythema in 1 case. CONCLUSION: After an allergological work-up, over 90% of the children evaluated were finally confirmed as tolerant to BLs. Most reactions were of the non-immediate type, and DPT was an essential tool for diagnosis.

The influence of advanced age on the morbi-mortality of gastric cancer after curative surgery.

INTRODUCTION: gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Spain after lung, colorectal, breast and prostate tumours. Surgery remains the only potentially curative treatment in localized gastric cancer. OBJECTIVE: the aim of our study is to evaluate and compare the clinical and surgical aspects, development of postoperative complications and outcomes of patients over 75 years old compared with younger patients in our centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS: comparative retrospective study, from March 2003 to June 2011. We diagnosed 166 cases of GC, 109 (65 %) underwent curative surgery. Two groups were settled: group M: < or = 75 years (41 patients) and group m: < 75 years (68 patients). We analyzed age, sex, comorbidities, tumour location, clinical stage, perioperative chemotherapy, surgical technique, postoperative complications, recurrence and mortality from cancer. RESULTS: a more frequent presence of cardiovascular comorbidities and a greater postoperative mortality by medical causes were the only significant differences between both groups. Also, a lower proportion of patients in group M received preoperative chemotherapy and underwent D1 lymphadenectomy. However, the rate of local and systemic recurrence and overall survival were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: age should not be considered a contraindication for curative surgery on GC. The general condition and comorbidities are more important to contraindicate surgical treatment.

Drug provocation tests in the diagnosis of hypersensitivity reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in children.

INTRODUCTION: Hypersensitivity reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most frequently reported reaction to drugs. They can be induced by pharmacological mechanisms (cyclooxygenase inhibition), with patients classified as cross-intolerant (CI), or by specific immunological mechanisms, IgE or T cell, with patients classified as selective reactors (SR). OBJECTIVE: To analyse a large group of children with a history of NSAID hypersensitivity diagnosed by drug provocation test (DPT). METHODS: A group of 63 children with a history of NSAID hypersensitivity were evaluated by DPT. The children were classified as CI or SR depending on the acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) response in DPT. The atopic status was also assessed by prick tests and total IgE in serum. RESULTS: Using DPT, 68.2% were confirmed as having hypersensitivity, 58.1% classified as CI and 41.9% as SR. Of the 119 DPT performed, 73 were positive (53.4% to ibuprofen, 37% to ASA, 8.2% to metamizol and 14% to paracetamol); angio-oedema was present in 86.3% of cases. All CI cases tolerated the administration of paracetamol. A significant number of the CI children were atopic compared with the SR children and non-allergic controls. CONCLUSION: In these children, CI hypersensitivity to NSAIDs was the most frequent type of hypersensitivity reaction. Ibuprofen was the drug most often involved, angio-oedema the most common entity, and frequently associated with atopy. DPT proved a safe approach for diagnosing these patients.