Articular manifestations related to anti-interleukin-5 therapies in severe asthma: a case series.

Articular manifestations should be screened before and during anti-IL-5/5R biologic treatment in severe asthma. Rigorous multidisciplinary team discussion should be carried out to assess the risk-benefit balance of withholding effective treatment. https://bit.ly/3vfPn4k.

Allergy Evaluation of Hypersensitivity to Platinum Salts and Taxanes: A Six-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to platinum salts (PS) and taxanes (TX) are a challenge to cancer management. Allergy evaluation based on skin tests (ST) and graded challenges can provide a diagnosis of an allergy to a suspected drug and indicate possible treatment with alternative same-class drugs. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the negative predictive value of ST in the diagnosis of HSRs to TX and PS. METHODS: This multicenter study prospectively enrolled patients with a suspected HSR to PS and TX. ST were performed for chemotherapy, drugs of the same pharmacological class, and other agents (latex or cotreatments). For patients with negative ST, a graded challenge was performed by the cancer teams trained in allergy management. RESULTS: A total of 119 consecutive patients were included during a 6-year period. ST results were positive for 58% of the cohort: for TX in 7 patients and for PS in 62 patients. Other agents were responsible for 4.2% of cases. Skin cross-reactivity was 50% for TX and 30% for PS. A graded challenge was performed in 14 patients for TX and in 50 patients for PS. Negative predictive values (NPVs) for ST were 100% for TX and 92% for PS, with NPVs for individuals PS of 100% for cisplatin, 89% for oxaliplatin, and 87% for carboplatin. CONCLUSIONS: ST to PS or TX offered a high NPV, making allergy evaluation a key element in the management of patients with cancer. Graded challenges can be safely performed by oncology teams trained in anaphylaxis management.

Changes in dynamic lung mechanics after lung volume reduction coil treatment of severe emphysema.

We assessed the relationships between changes in lung compliance, lung volumes and dynamic hyperinflation in patients with emphysema who underwent bronchoscopic treatment with nitinol coils (coil treatment) (n=11) or received usual care (UC) (n=11). Compared with UC, coil treatment resulted in decreased dynamic lung compliance (CLdyn) (p=0.03) and increased endurance time (p=0.010). The change in CLdyn was associated with significant improvement in FEV1 and FVC, with reduction in residual volume and intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure, and with increased inspiratory capacity at rest/and at exercise. The increase in end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) during exercise (EELVdyn-ch=EELVisotime EELVrest) demonstrated significant attenuation after coil treatment (p=0.02).