KAAACI Allergic Rhinitis Guidelines: Part 1. Update in pharmacotherapy

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and the socioeconomic burden associated with the medical cost and quality of life of AR have progressively increased. Therefore, practical guidelines for the appropriate management of AR need to be developed based on scientific evidence considering the real-world environment, values, and preferences of patients and physicians. The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology revised clinical guidelines for AR to address key clinical questions of the management of AR. Part 1 of the revised guideline covers the pharmacological management of patients with AR in Korea. Through a meta-analysis and a systematic review, we made 4 recommendations for AR pharmacotherapy, including intranasal corticosteroid (INCS)/intranasal antihistamine combination therapy, oral antihistamine/INCS combination therapy, leukotriene receptor antagonist treatment in AR patients with asthma, and prophylactic treatment for patients with pollen-induced AR. However, all recommendations are conditional because of the low or very low evidence of certainty. Well-designed and strictly executed randomized controlled trials are needed to measure and report appropriate outcomes.

KAAACI Allergic Rhinitis Guidelines: Part 2. Update in nonpharmacotherapy

Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease worldwide. Various upper airway symptoms lower quality of life, and due to the recurrent symptoms, multiple treatments are usually attempted rather than one definitive treatment. There are alternatives to medical (medication-based) and nonmedical treatments. A guideline is needed to understand allergic rhinitis and develop an appropriate treatment plan. We have developed guidelines for medical treatment based on previous reports. The current guidelines herein are associated with the “KAAACI Evidence-Based Guidelines for Allergic Rhinitis in Korea, Part 1: Update in pharmacotherapy” in which we aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for the medical treatment of allergic rhinitis. Part 2 focuses on nonpharmacological management, including allergen-specific immunotherapy, subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy, nasal saline irrigation, environmental management strategies, companion animal management, and nasal turbinate surgery. The evidence to support the treatment efficacy, safety, and selection has been systematically reviewed. However, larger controlled studies are needed to elevate the level of evidence to select rational non-medical therapeutic options for patients with allergic rhinitis.

Change in sensitization to inhalant allergens in adults with respiratoryallergic disease in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do province

Purpose@#It is crucial to identify the causative allergen of respiratory allergic disease. Air pollution and climate change affect the allergen concentration as well as the sensitization rate. This study aims to analyze the inhalant allergen sensitization in patients with respiratory allergic disease in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do province. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed skin prick test results from patients who visited an allergy clinic at a university hospital in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do in 2011 and 2016. Sensitivity to inhalant allergens was identified and analyzed by year and region. The pollen allergen concentration in Busan was also analyzed. @*Results@#The total numbers of participants were 697 in 2011 and 1,644 in 2016. The mite sensitization rate was the highest at approximately 36%, and tree pollen sensitization rate showed 10%–15%. However, the sensitization of most tree pollen and Japanese hop significantly decreased in 2016. In 2011, the mite sensitization rate of patients in the Western Gyeongsangnam-do region was remarkably low at 26%–28%, but this difference disappeared in 2016. The concentration of pollen allergens in Busan showed a tendency to decrease. @*Conclusion@#This study confirmed the longitudinal change in the sensitization rate of major inhalant allergens in patients with respiratory allergy in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do province, as well as a significant decrease in tree pollen antigen. Based on our results, this information can be used as a basis for future patient management, and further research will be made possible by establishing a research network.

Comparison of inhalant allergen sensitization between children, adolescents, and adults with asthma and allergic rhinitis

Purpose@#Inhalant allergens are known as a major factor for respiratory allergic diseases. There are many differences in sensitization rates of inhalant allergens, depending on the environment and demographic factors. This study aimed to compare the cross-sectional differences in sensitivity patterns to inhalant allergen between children, adolescents, and adults. @*Methods@#We analyzed the results of 449 patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis who underwent the inhalant allergen skin prick test at our university hospital in 2016. The subjects were classified 5 groups according to age: children ( ≤ 12 years), adolescents (13–17 years), young adults (18–30 years), middle adults (31–64 years), and elderly group ( ≥ 65 years). Positive responses skin prick test for allergens were defined as allergen-to-histamine wheal ratio ≥ 1. @*Results@#The sensitization rate (SR) to house dust mites (HDM) was 52.1% on average, showing the highest SR in all groups, especially in children (64.2%). Children and adolescents showed high SRs to cockroach along with tree pollen, animal fur, and adults showed high SR to weed pollen along with them. Among the tree pollen, the SRs to oak, alder, birch, and beech were high in all groups; in children, the SR to plain and willow tended to be high, and in adults the SR to hazel was high. SRs to Timothy pollen (9.9%) and Alternaria (8.6%) tended to be higher in children than in the other groups. @*Conclusion@#Although HDM is still the major allergen in children and adults with respiratory allergy, our study suggests various differences in the sensitization pattern to inhalant allergens according to age even in the same area. Further studies are needed to explain these differences in sensitization patterns.

Fasciola Hepatica Induced Hepatic Abscess Treated with Triclabendazole / 대한소화기학회지

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola Hepatica that infects mainly cattle, sheep, and goats. Humans can be infected by water or aquatic plants contaminated with metacercariae. The authors encountered two cases of F. hepatica infection. One patient reported abdominal discomfort with marked eosinophilia. The other patient had chest discomfort with marked eosinophilia. The abdominal CT images revealed hypodense lesions in the liver. The ultrasonography-guided liver biopsy findings in both patients were indicative of parasitic infections. Serological tests confirmed the definite diagnoses. Both patients were treated with a single dose of triclabendazole, which is the treatment of choice for fascioliasis. These findings suggest that a diagnosis of fascioliasis, particularly in the acute phase, should be considered in patients with abdominal pain, marked eosinophilia, and hypodense hepatic lesions on CT.

Prevalence of allergic symptoms and occupational allergic diseases among veterinary clinic workers

Purpose@#Veterinary clinic workers are frequently exposed to various animal allergens, increasing the possibility of occupational allergy. However, allergic symptoms in this group have not been studied extensively. We aim to investigate the prevalence of allergic symptoms and especially occupational allergic diseases in veterinary clinic workers. @*Methods@#A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted. The questionnaire for allergic symptoms was sent to the veterinary clinic workers in the Gyeongsangnam-do region and was collected for statistical analysis. Occupational asthma, rhinitis, or dermatitis were defined as the new onset or worsening of each symptom at work and improvement in the condition while away from the work. @*Results@#Ninety-five veterinary clinic workers participated in this study; 33.7% were male and their mean age was 33.7 years. Fiftytwo subjects (54.7%) experienced conjunctivitis symptoms along with rhinitis symptoms. Fifty-seven subjects (60.0%) experienced rhinitis symptoms, but not cold or flu, and 40% of the subjects were suspected of having occupational rhinitis. Forty subjects reported that they had lower respiratory symptoms, while 11 (11.6%) and 4 subjects (4.2%) had asthma and occupational asthma, respectively. Twenty-two subjects with respiratory symptoms complained of symptom worsening upon contact with animals, especially cats. Of 95 subjects, 31 had skin itching, 11 reported skin rash, and 6 had occupational dermatitis. There was no significant difference in the type of work performed by the study participants. @*Conclusion@#This study is the first to analyze the prevalence of allergic symptoms in veterinary clinic workers in Korea. The data can be employed for the prevention of occupational allergic diseases in veterinary clinic workers and can provide a basis for further studies.

The Characteristics of Adverse Drug Reactions in Cancer Patients: An Analysis of Spontaneously Reported Cases / 대한내과학회지

Background/Aims@#Although the number of domestic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported in Korea is rapidly increasing, the analysis of ADRs in cancer patients remains limited. We sought to investigate the clinical features of ADRs in cancer patients. @*Methods@#ADR data were collected from a spontaneous reporting system at single university hospital, between July 2010 and June 2015. ADR cases assessed to be “unlikely” or “unclassifiable” as per the criteria of the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center were excluded. Additional medical information was retrospectively collected from chart reviews, and clinical features of ADRs were analyzed. @*Results@#In total, 1,455 cases were reported. Of these, 822 ADRs (52.1%) were observed in cancer patients. The mean age of cancer patients was 60.8 years (range, 17–90 years), and 45.9% were male. The most prevalent clinical features were gastrointestinal abnormalities (32.6%), such as nausea and vomiting, followed by skin (28.5%) and neurologic manifestations (26.0%). Fifty-one (6.2%) and 296 cases (36.0%) were classified as severe and moderate, respectively. The most common causative agents were parenteral nutrition (PN) supplements (40.4%), followed by antibiotics (17.8%), analgesics (16.7%), iodinated contrast media (ICM, 10.6%), and vitamins (3.9%). Antineoplastic agents were responsible for 2.9% of cases. PN supplements were commonly associated with severe reactions. @*Conclusion@#Although it is well known that antibiotics, ICM, and analgesics induce ADRs, PN supplements, vitamins, and antineoplastic agents should also be considered as common causes of ADRs in cancer patients. Further investigation and monitoring to determine the causality associated with these agents is required.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis with Angina Pectoris / 대한소화기학회지

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune or antigen-mediated chronic inflammatory esophageal disorder that is relatively rarein Asian countries. The main symptoms of EoE are dysphagia and food impaction. Although chest pain is a symptom of EoE, it isalso a symptom of coronary heart disease. This paper reports a case of EoE with angina pectoris in a 45-year-old male who wasreferred to the authors’ hospital for chest pain. He was diagnosed with angina pectoris because of mild stenosis in the left coronaryartery on coronary angiography. On the other hand, the symptoms did not improve with angina medication therapy.Therefore, he underwent a chest CT scan, which revealed esophageal thickening. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed.His endoscopic findings showed linear furrows with edema, and >90 eosinophils existed per high-power field on the histologyfindings. He was diagnosed with EoE. Through additional examinations, he was also diagnosed with asthma. The patient wastreated with a proton pump inhibitor and a fluticasone inhaler. His symptoms and abnormal endoscopic findings disappeared aftereight weeks of treatment. This case shows that physicians should consider the possibility of the symptoms for EoE when unexplainedchest pain persists.

Anxiety, depression, and stress in Korean patients with chronic urticaria

Background/Aims@#Emotional distress is thought to cause or maintain chronic urticaria (CU). We aimed to investigate the presence of anxiety, depression, and stress in Korean adult CU patients and to explore their potential impact on treatment. @*Methods@#We enrolled 79 CU patients and a disease control group comprising 39 persistent asthma patients. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to evaluate depression and anxiety. Stress and quality of life (QoL) were assessed by Stress Response Inventory and CU-QoL questionnaires. The sociodemographic and clinical data such as urticaria activity score (UAS-15, UAS-6) were obtained. @*Results@#The prevalence of depression and anxiety based on the HADS were 48.1% and 38.0%. Although the prevalence of anxiety didn’t differ between the CU and asthma patients, depression was significantly more prevalent in the CU patients (48.1% vs. 28.2%). Stress tended to be lower in CU patients. Anxiety, depression, and stress exhibited negative correlations with QoL. Anxiety showed significant correlation with UAS-6 and pruritus-visual analog scale (VAS; r = 0.256, r = 0.272, p < 0.05, respectively); depression correlated with sleep difficulty-VAS (r = 0.261, p < 0.05). Stress was associated with UAS-15, UAS-6, pruritus-VAS, and sleep difficulty-VAS (r = 0.251, r = 0.317, r = 0.302, r = 0.258, p < 0.05, respectively). @*Conclusions@#The current study first presented that Korean CU patients frequently have anxiety and depression, which affect their QoL and demonstrated that anxiety, depression, and stress had different effects on sleep difficulty, pruritus, and urticaria severity in Korean CU patients.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Occupational Skin Disease in Korean Workers from the 2014 Korean Working Conditions Survey

Changes in skin reactivity and associated factors in patients sensitized to house dust mites after 1 year of allergen-specific immunotherapy

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) can significantly improve symptoms and reduce the need for symptomatic medication. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in skin reactivity to house dust mites (HDMs) as an immunologic response and associated factors after 1 year of immunotherapy. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with allergic airway diseases who received subcutaneous SIT with HDMs from 2009 to 2014 were evaluated. The investigated parameters were basic demographic characteristics, skin reactivity and specific IgE for HDM, serum total IgE level, blood eosinophil counts, and medication score. RESULTS: The mean levels of skin reactivity to HDMs, blood eosinophil counts, and medication scores after 1 year were significantly reduced from baseline. In univariate comparison of the changes in skin reactivity to HDMs, age ≤30 years, HDMs only as target of immunotherapy, and high initial skin reactivity (≥2) to HDMs were significantly associated with the reduction in skin test reactivity. In multivariate analysis, high initial skin reactivity and HDMs only as target allergens were significantly associated with changes in skin reactivity to HDMs. In the receiver operating characteristic curve of the initial mean skin reactivity to HDMs for more than 50% reduction, the optimal cutoff value was 2.14. CONCLUSION: This study showed significant reductions in allergen skin reactivity to HDMs after 1 year of immunotherapy in patients sensitized to HDMs. The extent of initial allergen skin reactivity and only HDMs as target allergen were important predictive factors for changes in skin reactivity.

Relationship between Bronchodilator Response, Airway Hyperresponsiveness, and Exhaled Nitric Oxide Levels in Patients with Suspected Bronchial Asthma / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been extensively investigated as a marker of airway inflammation in asthma, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is recognized as a useful tool for its evaluation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between FeNO levels and bronchodilator response (BDR), and between FeNO and mannitol-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), in patients with suspected asthma. METHODS: Clinical variables were collected from patients aged ≥ 13 years with suspected bronchial asthma and measured levels of FeNO. These levels were compared with patient values for forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow at 25 and 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF(25-75%)) in bronchodilator response tests under control conditions, and during bronchial provocation with mannitol. Correlations and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves between FeNO levels and each test were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 259 patients were included in the analysis. The mean ages of the two test groups were 41.1 and 47.8 years, respectively. FeNO levels were strongly correlated with bronchodilator response (%) and with the mannitol dose producing a 15% fall in FEV1 (PD15). On the other hand, FeNO levels were only weakly correlated with FEF(25-75%). The optimal cut-off values for FeNO to predict a positive BDR and AHR were 38.5 and 29.5 parts per billion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that FEV1 and FEF(25-75%) airway responses correlate with FeNO levels in patients with suspected bronchial asthma. FeNO levels may help to predict positive responses to BDR and AHR.

Acquired acrodermatitis enteropathica caused by zinc deficiency in a heavy drinker: A case report

Acrodematitis enteropathica is an uncommon disease due to zinc deficiency which is characterized by perioral and acral dermatitis, alopecia, and diarrhea. This disease typically presents in infants, either due to an autosomal recessive genetic disorder or after cessation of breastfeeding. Acquired adult-onset acrodermatitis enteropathica has rarely been reported so far. We report a case of a 38-year-old man who had a history of chronic alcohol intake and presented with severe acrodermatitis enteropathica. The patient was successfully managed with zinc supplement and supportive care.

Seasonal and regional variations in the causes of anaphylaxis in Korean adults

PURPOSE: To investigate whether causes of anaphylaxis vary according to regions and seasons in Korean adults. METHODS: Based on previous retrospective studies of anaphylaxis between 2007 and 2011 at the 15 university hospitals. Regions were classified into 4 groups: region I, Seoul; region II, Gyeonggi; region III, Chungcheong; and region IV, Chonnam and Busan. The cases induced by 5 major allergens including drugs, food, bee sting, radiocontrast media, and exercise, were analyzed in the present study. RESULTS: Among a total of 1,661 cases reported (53% male, 45.9+/-16.0 years), 367 (22.2%), 706 (42.5%), 319 (19.2%), and 269 cases (16.2%) were enrolled in regions I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Of the 5 major allergens, drugs (37.3%) were the most frequently reported, followed by food (25.7%), bee sting (17.9%), radiocontrast media (12.9%), and exercise (6.2%). There was no significant difference in the total occurrence of anaphylaxis in 4 seasons (374 in spring, 460 in summer, 460 in autumn, and 367 in winter). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that drug-induced anaphylaxis was significantly associated with the winter season (odds ratio [OR] 1.0 vs. OR 0.597, P<0.05 for spring; OR 1.0 vs. OR 0.481, P<0.01 for summer; OR 1.0 vs. OR 0.653, P<0.05 for autumn). Food-associated anaphylaxis was mainly reported in region I, whereas the frequency of insect sting was relatively higher in regions II, III, and IV than in region I. Older age and female gender were significantly associated with drug-induced anaphylaxis. CONCLUSION: Specific causative allergens of anaphylaxis in adults may vary according to age, gender, region, and season in Korea.

Predictors of the Severity and Serious Outcomes of Anaphylaxis in Korean Adults: A Multicenter Retrospective Case Study

PURPOSE: Differences in definitions of the condition, relevant triggers, and the geographical locations of study centers, cause estimates of the prevalence of anaphylaxis to vary. Recent epidemiological data indicate that the incidence of anaphylaxis is rising. METHODS: To investigate the causes and clinical features of anaphylaxis in Korean adults, factors associated with the severity of the condition, and serious outcomes, a retrospective medical record review was performed on adult patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis between 2007 and 2011 in 15 University Hospitals of South Korea. RESULTS: A total of 1,806 cases (52% male, age 16-86 years) were reported. Cutaneous symptoms (84.0%), combined with respiratory (53.9%) and/or cardiovascular (55.4%) symptoms, were the most frequent presentations. Using a recognized grading system, 1,776 cases could be classified as either mild, 340; moderate, 690; or severe, 746. Although eliciting factors varied significantly by age, gender, and regional and seasonal factors, drugs (46.5%; including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and radiocontrast media) were the most common cause of anaphylaxis, followed by foods (24.2%), insect stings (16.4%), exercise (5.9%), and unknown etiology (7.0%). All of age, multi-organ involvement, a history of allergic disease, and drug-induced anaphylaxis, were significant predictors of serious outcomes requiring hospital admission or prolongation of hospital stay. Epinephrine auto-injectors were prescribed for 7.4% of reported cases. CONCLUSIONS: The principal causes of anaphylaxis in Korean adults were drugs, food, and insect stings. Drug-associated anaphylaxis, a history of allergic disease, multi-organ involvement, and older age, were identified as predictors of serious outcomes.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Depression in Korean Adult Patients with Asthma: Is There a Difference between Elderly and Non-Elderly Patients?

Depression is an important comorbidity of asthma. However, little information is available about depression and its potential impact on asthma control in Korean adult asthma patients. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for depression in Korean adults with persistent asthma. The 127 non-elderly (20-64 yr) and 75 elderly (> or =65 yr) patients with asthma were recruited. Demographic and clinical data were extracted, and the patients completed the Asthma Specific Quality of Life (AQOL) questionnaire and asthma control test (ACT). Depression status was defined using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Depression was more prevalent in non-elderly (18.9%) than in elderly patients with asthma (13.3%). Patients with depression were significantly younger, had lower economic status, shorter disease duration, poorer asthma control, and worse AQOL scores (P<0.05). Within the non-elderly group, younger age and shorter disease duration were significantly associated with depression (P<0.05). Within the elderly group, a higher body mass index and current smoking status were significantly associated with depression (P<0.05). The PHQ-9 score was significantly correlated with worse ACT and AQOL scores in both groups. In conclusion, depression is strongly associated with poor asthma control and quality of life in Korean adult asthma patients. Our results provide important clues that used to target modifiable factors which contribute to development of depression in asthma patients.

Hymenoptera venom anaphylaxis in adult Korean: a multicenter retrospective case study

PURPOSE: We investigated the causes, clinical features, and risk factors of bee venom anaphylaxis in Korea. METHODS: The medical records of the diagnosis of anaphylaxis during a 5-year period from the 14 hospitals in Korea have been retrospectively reviewed. Cases of bee venom anaphylaxis were identified among anaphylaxis patients, and subgroup analyses were done. RESULTS: A total of 291 patients were included. The common cause of bee species was vespid (24.6%) in bee venom anaphylaxis, followed by honeybee and vespid (8.8%), apitherapy (7.7%), and honeybee (2.0%), although the causative bee species were commonly unknown (56.9%). The severity of anaphylaxis was mostly mild-moderate (72.9%), and common clinical manifestations included cutaneous (80.6%), cardiovascular (39.2%), respiratory (38.1%), and gastrointestinal (13.1%) symptoms. Portable epinephrine auto-injectors were prescribed to 12.1% of the patients. Subject positive to both vespid and honeybee showed more severe symptoms and higher epinephrine use (P<0.05). The severity was significantly associated with older age, but not with gender, underlying allergic disease, or family history. Apitherapy-induced anaphylaxis showed a higher rate of hospitalization and epinephrine use than bee sting anaphylaxis (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Vespid is the most common cause of bee venom anaphylaxis in Korea. It is suggested that positivity to honeybee and vespid may be associated with more severe symptoms.

The Impact of Asthma Control on Salivary Cortisol Level in Adult Asthmatics

Asthma is a chronic disease causing psychological stress which leads to the activation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. The purpose of this study is to compare morning salivary cortisol levels in persistent asthma patients according to their disease severities and control status. Total 206 adult asthma patients were recruited from four university hospitals. Spirometry, questionnaire of Asthma Quality of Life (AQOL) and Asthma Control Test (ACT) were completed, and saliva samples were collected prospectively to measure morning cortisol level. The mean patient age was 56.5+/-15.3 years with mean asthma duration of 9.1+/-11.1 years. Sixty five patents (31.6%) were classified as mild persistent asthma, and 141 patients (68.4%) were classified as moderate persistent asthma according to the Expert Panel Report 3. The mean predicted FEV1 was 88.8%+/-18.4%, and the methacholine PC20 was 9.6+/-8.5 mg/mL in all study population. The mean ACT score for all patients was 19.9+/-3.6, and there were 71 (34.5%) patients in poorly controlled and 135 (65.5%) in well controlled asthma. The poorly controlled asthma patients were characterized by significantly lower FEV1 (84.6%+/-17.6% vs 91.1%+/-18.5%, P=0.018), lower AQOL scores (46.0+/-13.9 vs 73.8+/-26.3, P<0.001), and lower salivary cortisol levels (0.14+/-0.08 vs 0.18+/-0.11 microg/dL, P=0.04) compared to well controlled asthma. The ACT score was significantly related to salivary cortisol levels (P=0.034) after adjusting for age. There was no significant difference in salivary cortisol levels (0.17+/-0.12 vs 0.16+/-0.08, P=0.725) when analyzed according to the dose of used corticosteroid and lung function. Asthma control status affects morning salivary cortisol level. Measuring the morning salivary cortisol level might be a simple and new way to assess asthma control status.

Delayed onset urticaria and angioedema caused by components of itraconazole solution

Itraconazole, new triazole agent with a broader antifungal spectrum than fluconazole, has been prescribed widely in the treatment and prophylaxis for fungal infection. Itaconazole has been reported to have gastrointestinal disturbance (4%) and headache (1%) as its most common side-effects. However, allergic reactions caused by this drug are rare. A 53-year-old woman with myelodysplastic syndrome received prophylactic antibiotic therapy including itraconazole solution before chemotherapy. She complained of hive on the face with angioedema at 6 hours after taking them. The symptoms were more aggravated on the next day and reversed by stopping itraconazole solution and injection of antihistamine and steroids. Skin prick tests with itraconazole solution, itraconazole tablet, and ketoconazole showed all the negative responses. The oral challenge test with itraconazole solution was performed and resulted in urticaria and angioedema 6 hours later. Next, the oral challenge test with intraconazole tablet was performed and showed negative response. The patient was finally diagnosed as adverse reaction by additives contained intraconazole solution. We report, a case of delayed onset urticaria and angioedema caused by components of itraconazole solution.

The Allergenic Potency of Japanese Hop Pollen Is Increasing With Environmental Changes in Korea

PURPOSE: The sensitization rate to Japanese Hop (Hop J) in respiratory allergy patients has increased in recent years in Korea. We evaluated changes in the allergenic potency of Hop J pollen collected in 1998 and 2009. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma were enrolled. Group I included 21 subjects sensitized to Hop J at an initial visit and group II included 14 subjects who developed a new sensitization. Hop J pollens were collected in 1998 and 2009 (98 and 09 extracts) and both urban and suburban environments (urban and suburban extracts). Serum specific IgE levels to Hop J pollen extracts were compared using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgE binding components were compared by IgE immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: Serum specific IgE levels to the 09 and urban extracts in both groups increased significantly compared to those of the 98 and suburban extracts. IgE immunoblot demonstrated that the major 10 kDa allergen was intensified in group I, while it was newly generated in group II with additional components ranging from 12-95 kDa. When the 98 and 09 extracts were compared, intensification of the major allergen of 09 extract had occurred in both groups. The IgE binding components of the urban extract was stronger than those of suburban one. CONCLUSIONS: The allergenic potency of Hop J pollen may be increased with environmental changes.