ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pollen allergy may be frequently associated with fruit-vegetables: the so-called pollen food syndrome. Pru p 3 is the most relevant peach allergen. Previously, it has been reported that serum specific IgE level to Pru p 3 depends on age in a limited geographic area. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to to test the hypothesis about the differences of Pru p 3 sensitization across Italy, mainly concerning the impact of age. METHODS: The current study was retrospective and multicentre, involving 2 labs in Northern Italy (709 subjects), 1 in Genoa (1,040 subjects), and 1 in Southern Italy (2,188 subjects). All of them referred to labs for IgE testing because of suspected food allergy. Serum IgE to Pru p 3 was assessed in all subjects. RESULTS: Sixteen point seven percent (16.7%) of subjects were sensitized to Pru p 3. Sensitization percentage sigificantly decreased over time. The serum IgE levels increased up to young adulthood and then decreased until aging. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrates that Pru p 3 sensitization and production are closely age-dependent phenomena.
Subject(s)
Aging , Food Hypersensitivity , Immunoglobulin E , Italy , Pollen , Prunus persica , Retrospective Studies , Rhinitis, Allergic, SeasonalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is characterized by eosinophil inflammation. Allergic inflammation may induce susceptibility to respiratory infections (RI). House dust mite (HDM) sensitization is very frequent in childhood. Allergen immunotherapy may cure allergy as it restores a physiologic immune and clinical tolerance to allergen and exerts anti-inflammatory activity. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether six-month high-dose, such as 300 IR (index of reactivity), HDM-sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) could affect RI in allergic children. METHODS: Globally, 40 HDM allergic children (18 males; mean age, 9.3 years) were subdivided in 2 groups: 20 treated by symptomatic drugs (group 1) and 20 by high-dose HDM-SLIT (group 2), since September 2012 to April 2013. The daily maintenance dose of HDM-SLIT was 4 pressures corresponding to 24, 4.8, and 60 µg, respectively of the major allergens Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) 1, Der p 2, and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) 1. RI was diagnosed when at least 2 symptoms or signs, and fever were present for at least 48 hours. A family pediatrician provided diagnosis on a clinical ground. RESULTS: SLIT-treated children had significantly (p = 0.01) less RI episodes (3.5) than control group (5.45). About secondary outcomes, SLIT-treated children had less episodes of pharyngo-tonsillitis (p < 0.05) and bronchitis (p < 0.005), and snoring (p < 0.05) than control group. In addition, SLIT-treated children had less fever (p < 0.01) and took fewer medications, such as antibiotics (p < 0.05) and fever-reducers (p < 0.01), than control group. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study might suggest that also a short course (6 months) of high-dose SLIT, titrated in µg of major allergens, could reduce RI in allergic children.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Male , Allergens , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Bronchitis , Dermatophagoides farinae , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , Desensitization, Immunologic , Diagnosis , Dust , Eosinophils , Fever , Hypersensitivity , Immunotherapy , Inflammation , Mites , Pyroglyphidae , Respiratory Tract Infections , Rhinitis, Allergic , Snoring , Sublingual ImmunotherapyABSTRACT
Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in almost all functions of the immune system. To investigate a possible impact of age on IgE production, this study evaluated total and allergen-specific serum IgE levels in a large cohort of allergic patients. This study included 6,370 allergic patients (2,961 females, 3,409 males; mean age, 21.7 years; age range, 0-96 years). Total and allergen-specific serum IgE levels were measured by immunoenzymatic assay. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference (P<0.0001) in the mean value of total IgE among the different age groups of patients. Moreover, specific IgE levels for all allergens examined differed significantly among the age groups of patients (P<0.0001), with a specific trend pattern for each allergen. Total IgE increased with age, but allergen-specific IgE levels significantly decreased with age, with a trend specific for each allergen tested.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Aging , Allergens , Cohort Studies , Hypersensitivity , Immune System , Immunoglobulin EABSTRACT
The nose and lung are both part of the respiratory tract. Often the diseases affecting the nose and/or the bronchi are treated separately. However, in recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the fact that the respiratory system is a single entity and the concept of "united airway disease" has become more and more important. The unity of the respiratory tract is confirmed both from a morphological and from a functional point of view. Nevertheless, this concept is also confirmed for the respiratory immune system, innervation and vascularization interesting all along the tract, from the nose to the bronchioles. When treating rhinitis, it is often necessary to assess the presence of asthma. Patients with sinusitis should be evaluated for a possible concomitant asthma. Conversely, patients with asthma should always be evaluated for possible nasal disease. The medications that treat nasal diseases appear to be useful in improving control of asthma and in reducing bronchial hyperresponsiveness as well. Physicians should always keep these notions in mind, and evaluate and treat respiratory diseases taking into account the unity of the respiratory tract.
Subject(s)
Humans , Asthma , Bronchi , Bronchioles , Immune System , Lung , Nose , Nose Diseases , Respiratory System , Rhinitis , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial , SinusitisABSTRACT
Allergic rhinitis [AR] is a very frequent disease which is not only characterized by nasal symptoms, but also with behavioural changes. This study evaluated the serum serotonin levels in patients with pollen-induced AR during and outside the pollen season. One-hundred-two [56 females, 46 males, median age: 28.7 years] were included in this study: 56 with seasonal AR [SAR] evaluated outside the pollen season and so without allergic inflammation and symptoms, and 46 with SAR evaluated during the pollen season with symptoms. Blood specimens were collected to assess serum concentrations of serotonin and to compare results to scores of a Quality of Life [QoL] questionnaire which was performed in all subjects. Serotonin serum concentrations were higher in AR patients out of pollen season than in [p<0.01]. There was a very strong direct relationship between QoL and serotonin concentrations. This preliminary study demonstrates that SAR influences serotonin concentrations and that serum serotonin could serve as a biomarker in AR patients with behavioural symptoms