Updated grading system for systemic allergic reactions: Joint Statement of the World Allergy Organization Anaphylaxis Committee and Allergen Immunotherapy Committee.

There is a lack of consensus over the description and severity assignment of allergic adverse reactions to immunotherapy, although there seems to be a consensus at least in terms of using the World Allergy Organization (WAO) grading systems to describe local adverse events for Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) and Systemic Allergic Reactions (SARs) to Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) amongst the major national/regional allergy societies. In this manuscript, we propose a modification of the previous WAO Grading system for SARs, which aligns with the newly-proposed Consortium for Food Allergy Research (CoFAR) Grading Scale for Systemic Allergic Reactions in Food Allergy (version 3.0). We hope this can facilitate a unified grading system appropriate to SARs due to allergen immunotherapy, independent of allergen and route of administration, and across clinical and research practice.

Global disparities in availability of epinephrine auto-injectors.

Background: Anaphylaxis is the most severe clinical presentation of acute systemic allergic reactions and can cause death. Given the prevalence of anaphylaxis within healthcare systems, it is a high priority public health issue. However, management of anaphylaxis - both acute and preventative - varies by region. Methods: The World Allergy Organization (WAO) Anaphylaxis Committee and the WAO Junior Members Steering Group undertook a global online survey to evaluate local practice in the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis across regions. Results: Responses were received from WAO members in 66 countries. While intramuscular epinephrine (adrenaline) is first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, some countries continue to recommend alternative routes in contrast to guidelines. Epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) devices, prescribed to individuals at ongoing risk of anaphylaxis in the community setting, are only available in 60% of countries surveyed, mainly in high-income countries. Many countries in South America, Africa/Middle-East and Asian-Pacific regions do not have EAI available, or depend on individual importation. In countries where EAIs are commercially available, national policies regarding the availability of EAIs in public settings are limited to few countries (16%). There is no consensus regarding the time patients should be observed following emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. Conclusion: This survey provides a global snapshot view of the current management of anaphylaxis, and highlights key unmet needs including the global availability of epinephrine for self-injection as a key component of anaphylaxis management.

Anaphylaxis and systemic mastocytosis caused by Solenopsis invicta stings / Anafilaxia e mastocitose sistêmica ocasionada pela Solenopsis invicta

Indolent systemic mastocytosis is a rare disease characterized by an increased number of mast cells in the bone marrow and other tissues, such as the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin. Patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis and high serum tryptase levels are at risk for Hymenoptera venom-induced anaphylaxis. Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy in patients with specific IgE is safe and effective. While some patients can receive ultra-rush venom immunotherapy with minimal side effects, omalizumab effectively protects against anaphylaxis during the build-up phase.

A mastocitose sistêmica indolente é uma doença rara caracterizada por um número aumentado de mastócitos na medula óssea e em outros tecidos, como fígado, baço, linfonodos e pele. Pacientes com mastocitose sistêmica indolente e altos níveis séricos de triptase correm risco de anafilaxia induzida pelo veneno dos Hymenoptera. A imunoterapia com veneno de himenópteros em pacientes com IgE específica é segura e eficaz. Embora alguns pacientes possam receber imunoterapia com veneno ultrarrápido com efeitos colaterais mínimos, o omalizumabe protegeu efetivamente contra a anafilaxia durante a fase de acúmulo.

Anaphylaxis associated with intracavernous penile injection of prostaglandin E1 in combination with papaverine and phentolamine / Anafilaxia associada à injeção intracavernosa peniana de prostaglandina E1 em combinação com papaverina e fentolamina

Total radical prostatectomy for advanced prostate cancer may lead to sexual impotence, since it is associated with severe erectile dysfunction. A widely recommended treatment for this disabling condition is intracavernous penile injection of a mixture of prostaglandin E1, papaverine, and phentolamine. To our knowledge, we present the first case of anaphylaxis associated with intracavernous penile injection of prostaglandin E1 in combination with papaverine and phentolamine.

A prostatectomia radical total para câncer de próstata avançado pode levar à impotência sexual, associada a uma disfunção erétil grave. Um tratamento amplamente recomendado para esta condição incapacitante é a injeção intracavernosa no pênis de uma mistura de prostaglandina E1, papaverina e fentolamina. Até onde sabemos, estamos apresentando o primeiro caso de anafilaxia associada à injeção intracavernosa peniana de prostaglandina E1 em combinação com papaverina e fentolamina.

Fixed pigmented erythema to secnidazole / Eritema pigmentar fixo à secnidazol

Rare description of drug fixed eruption induced by secnidazole.

Descrição rara de eritema pigmentar fixo induzido por secnidazol.

Developing a standardized approach for assessing mast cells and eosinophils on tissue biopsies: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Allergic Skin Diseases Committee.

Mast cells and eosinophils are commonly found, expectedly or unexpectedly, in human tissue biopsies. Although the clinical significance of their presence, absence, quantity, and quality continues to be investigated in homeostasis and disease, there are currently gaps in knowledge related to what constitutes quantitatively relevant increases in mast cell and eosinophil number in tissue specimens for several clinical conditions. Diagnostically relevant thresholds of mast cell and eosinophil numbers have been proposed and generally accepted by the medical community for a few conditions, such as systemic mastocytosis and eosinophilic esophagitis. However, for other mast cell- and eosinophil-associated disorders, broad discrepancies remain regarding diagnostic thresholds and how samples are processed, routinely and/or specially stained, and interpreted and/or reported by pathologists. These discrepancies can obfuscate or delay a patient's correct diagnosis. Therefore, a work group was assembled to review the literature and develop a standardized consensus for assessing the presence of mast cells and eosinophils for a spectrum of clinical conditions, including systemic mastocytosis and cutaneous mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndrome, eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis/enteritis, and hypereosinophilia/hypereosinophilic syndrome. The intent of this work group is to build a consensus among pathology, allergy, dermatology, hematology/oncology, and gastroenterology stakeholders for qualitatively and quantitatively assessing mast cells and eosinophils in skin, gastrointestinal, and bone marrow pathologic specimens for the benefit of clinical practice and patients.

COVID-19 vaccine-associated anaphylaxis: A statement of the World Allergy Organization Anaphylaxis Committee.

Vaccines against COVID-19 (and its emerging variants) are an essential global intervention to control the current pandemic situation. Vaccines often cause adverse events; however, the vast majority of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) are a consequence of the vaccine stimulating a protective immune response, and not allergic in etiology. Anaphylaxis as an AEFI is uncommon, occurring at a rate of less than 1 per million doses for most vaccines. However, within the first days of initiating mass vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2, there were reports of anaphylaxis from the United Kingdom and United States. More recent data imply an incidence of anaphylaxis closer to 1:200,000 doses with respect to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. In this position paper, we discuss the background to reactions to the current COVID-19 vaccines and relevant steps to mitigate against the risk of anaphylaxis as an AEFI. We propose a global surveillance strategy led by allergists in order to understand the potential risk and generate data to inform evidence-based guidance, and thus provide reassurance to public health bodies and members of the public.

World allergy organization anaphylaxis guidance 2020.

Anaphylaxis is the most severe clinical presentation of acute systemic allergic reactions. The occurrence of anaphylaxis has increased in recent years, and subsequently, there is a need to continue disseminating knowledge on the diagnosis and management, so every healthcare professional is prepared to deal with such emergencies. The rationale of this updated position document is the need to keep guidance aligned with the current state of the art of knowledge in anaphylaxis management. The World Allergy Organization (WAO) anaphylaxis guidelines were published in 2011, and the current guidance adopts their major indications, incorporating some novel changes. Intramuscular epinephrine (adrenaline) continues to be the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. Nevertheless, its use remains suboptimal. After an anaphylaxis occurrence, patients should be referred to a specialist to assess the potential cause and to be educated on prevention of recurrences and self-management. The limited availability of epinephrine auto-injectors remains a major problem in many countries, as well as their affordability for some patients.

Clinical Management of Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis and Cholinergic Urticaria.

Exercising is both pleasant and healthy. In some individuals, it can trigger adverse reactions. Examples of these reactions include exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) and cholinergic urticaria (ChoIU). EIA presents as food-associated and non-food-associated conditions. Strenuous exertion may provoke both EIA and ChoIU, but with exercise the passive warming will induce solely ChoIU and not EIA. The morphologic size of the urticarial wheals can help distinguish between these 2 types of conditions. Small punctate wheals are present in ChoIU and large ones in EIA. Wheat is the most common food associated with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis and gluten is its most important antigen. Omega-5-gliadin is the major epitope of gluten. The most common medicines associated with drug-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin.

Uma visão atualizada da anafilaxia idiopática: a ausência de evidência não é a evidência de ausência / An updated view of idiopathic anaphylaxis: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

A anafilaxia idiopática não apresenta etiologia conhecida. A sua prevalência é estimada entre 10-35% de todas as modalidades de anafilaxia. A sintomatologia apresentada é a mesma de qualquer outra anafilaxia: urticária, angioedema, ruborização, prurido, hipotensão arterial, taquicardia, manifestações gastrointestinais (disfagia, náusea, vômitos, cólicas abdominais, diarreia), asma, edema laríngeo, tontura e síncope. A mortalidade é rara. Não há transmissão genética, mas 40% dos pacientes são atópicos. É mais frequente nos adultos do que nas crianças, e principalmente em mulheres. É um diagnóstico de exclusão. Ocorre ativação mastocitária com desgranulação citoplasmática dos mediadores de anafilaxia (triptase, histamina, entre outros). É uma anafilaxia com boa resposta aos corticoides, e, portanto, caso não haja resposta adequada a doses eficazes de prednisona/prednisolona, o seu diagnóstico deve ser revisto. O diagnóstico diferencial da anafilaxia idiopática inclui: a mastocitose sistêmica indolente, síndromes de ativação mastocitária monoclonais, alergia à galactose-alfa-1,3 galactose, anafilaxia induzida por exercícios (com e sem dependência alimentar e medicamentosa), angioedema hereditário (congênito e adquirido), feocromocitoma, síndrome carcinoide, anafilaxia oral acarina, alergia ao Anisakis simplex, disfunção das cordas vocais, síndrome escombroide, alergia ao sêmen, alergia ao látex, manifestações psicossomáticas (síndrome do pânico, globus hystericus e a síndrome de Münchausen), bem como as tradicionais e mais frequentes modalidades de anafilaxia (alergia a alimentos, medicamentos e insetos). O tratamento na crise aguda da anafilaxia idiopática é o mesmo do que nas demais anafilaxias, incluindo a administração intramuscular imediata de epinefrina. Deve haver uma generosa e prolongada prescrição de corticoterapia oral, e também a instituição de medicação preventiva (anti-histamínicos anti- H1 e anti-H2, cetotifeno, albuterol oral, montelucaste, cromoglicato de sódio, e por último o omalizumabe). Os pacientes devem portar epinefrina autoinjetora e ser instruídos sobre como agir em caso de um episódio anafilático. Eles respondem bem à administração de epinefrina. A corticoterapia oral, por 4-6 semanas, pode induzir uma remissão completa.

Idiopathic anaphylaxis is a condition of unknown etiology. Its prevalence ranges from 10 to 35% of all cases of anaphylaxis. Clinical symptoms and signs are those of classic anaphylaxis, including urticaria, angioedema, flushing, itching, hypotension, tachycardia, gastrointestinal manifestations (dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea), asthma, laryngeal edema, dizziness, and syncope. Mortality is rare. There is no genetic transmission, but about 40% of patients are atopic. It is more common in adults than in children, affecting mainly women. It is considered a diagnosis of exclusion of other known forms of anaphylaxis. Mast cell activation occurs with cytoplasmatic degranulation of mediators of anaphylaxis (tryptase and histamine, among others). Because idiopathic anaphylaxis is a steroid-responsive condition, if it is not controlled with adequate doses of prednisone/prednisolone, the diagnosis should be challenged. The differential diagnosis of idiopathic anaphylaxis includes indolent systemic mastocytosis, clonal mast cell activation syndromes, galactose-alpha-1,3- galactose allergy, exercise-induced anaphylaxis (both food- and drug-dependent and -independent), hereditary angioedema (congenital and acquired), pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, oral mite anaphylaxis, Anisakis simplex allergy, vocal cord dysfunction, scombroid poisoning, semen allergy, latex allergy, psychosomatic conditions (panic attacks, globus hystericus, and Münchausen syndrome), and the classic forms of anaphylaxis (food, drug, and insect allergies). Treatment of acute idiopathic anaphylaxis is the same as in the other forms of anaphylaxis, including intramuscular epinephrine, but with prolonged oral corticosteroid therapy. It might also include other oral preventive medications (H1 and H2 antihistamines, ketotifen, oral albuterol, montelukast, sodium cromoglycate, and recently omalizumab). Patients should have an epinephrine auto-injector and be instructed on self-management of anaphylaxis. Good response to epinephrine is observed, and oral corticosteroid therapy for 4-6 weeks can induce complete remission.