ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The increased prevalence of asthma has been associated with an increase in atopic sensitization, and it is parallel with similar increases in other allergic diseases. In United States, Blomia tropicalis has the fourth place between the most known types of house dust mites, and is the most common in the southern subtropical states. In Mexico there have been few studies to investigate sensitization to this mite. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of sensitization to Blomia tropicalis and Dermatophagoides in patients with rhinitis and/or allergic bronchial asthma in a population of the metropolitan area of Mexico. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We selected 334 patients with a diagnosis of rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma, 149 men and 185 women, aged between 3 and 74 years, of which 189 had positive skin tests to at least one of the mites (Dermatophagoides and/or Blomia tropicalis). We measured the wheal area and compared the averages of the surface of the wheal and correlations were made of the results using the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The total number of patients who presented positive skin test to Blomia tropicalis in association with other mites was 53 (28.0%) and the total number of patients who presented positive skin test to only Blomia tropicalis was 23 (12.1%). Correlations of r = 0.45, 0.45 and 0.68 (statistically significant, p < 0.05) were found between the three species of Dermatophagoides, while there was no correlation between positive dermoreactions of Blomia tropicalis with those of Dermatophagoides. CONCLUSIONS: In the metropolitan area of Mexico City, while not having a tropical or sub-tropical weather, it is important to include Blomia tropicalis in diagnostic panels of allergens.
Subject(s)
Allergens/adverse effects , Allergens/immunology , Asthma/immunology , Pyroglyphidae , Rhinitis/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Asthma/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Dermatophagoides farinae , Female , Humans , Male , Mexico , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Rhinitis/epidemiology , Skin Tests , Urban Population , Young AdultABSTRACT
Although various mechanisms involving antibodies and various cell types participate, a Thl and Th2 cells imbalance seems to play a central role for allergy development. Other lymphocyte subpopulations, such as Th17, CD4 FOXP3, and Th9 positive regulatory T lymphocytes may also be involved in the allergic response. Regulatory processes are an appealing target for therapeutic approaches aiming to solve allergic reactions by restoring the delicate balance within the immune system. Transfer factor (TF) or dialyzable leukocyte extract is meant to transfer cell-mediated immunity from immune competent donors to unsensitized or deficient recipients. A PubMed search on the current knowledge on TF indicates that TF may restore the Th1/Th2 balance and improve immune regulatory mechanisms of patients receiving it. Our preliminary results demonstrate that TF induces mRNA expression of IFN-g, osteopontin, RANTES, and hBD-2 in human healthy subjects. TF has been used to treat a variety of immune dysfunction related-pathologies, such as allergy, autoimmunity, immunodeficiencies, infectious diseases and tumors. Patients receiving TF together with their conventional treatment often have better clinical evolution than without it, as we have witnessed, adding TF to the usual medical treatment of allergic diseases as an attempt to provide allergic patients with those regulatory elements that they apparently lack but require to achieve properly regulated immune responses and thus obtain a faster and better resolution of allergic reactions.
Subject(s)
Hypersensitivity , Transfer Factor , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Cytokines , Humans , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Immunity, Cellular , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory , Th2 CellsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Allergic etiology is suspected whenever a patient with conjunctivitis presents the typical clinical features; however, in ophthalmic practice, confirmation of the immune disease is uncommon. Ocular involvement is common in allergic rhinitis, and the current name of this entity is allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). Conjunctivitis diagnosis in ARC is inferred by the symptoms, but the most common ocular findings in patients with a confirmed allergic disease are unknown. The most common findings in allergic patients with ocular involvement were identified. METHODS: Anterior segment of patients with an ARC diagnosis offered by an immunologist were evaluated, and the rates of the most common (whether considered related to allergy or not) were determined; 95% confidence intervals (CI) for rates were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen patients were evaluated, and the most common finding was conjunctival fornix edema (89.7%, 95% CI 83.5-94.7), followed by tarsal papillae (70.6%, 95% CI 62.4-78.8); the most common non-allergy-related finding was tear film deficiency (52.9%, 95% CI 43.9-61.9). CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival fornix edema was consistently more frequent than most of the signs used to diagnose allergic conjunctivitis in medical journals. It is suggested to intentionally look for this as recommended, in order to make a more easy diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Conjunctivitis, Allergic/diagnosis , Conjunctivitis, Allergic/etiology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The study of perennial allergic rhinitis is a good model to evidence the unbalance between Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes. This functional unbalance is manifested by the exaggerated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a reduction of the antiinflammatory ones. OBJECTIVE: To corroborate these alterations in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. PATIENTS AMD METHOD: In nine patients with perennial allergic rhinitis who had no immunotherapy treatment we measured the IFNgamma, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 levels through a flow citometry. RESULTS: We found high levels of IL-10 (42%) and reduced IFNgamma values. We did not find IL-4 or IL-13 expressions in the studied patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results make us to consider a Th1/Th2 unbalance towards a Th2 hyperfunction.
Subject(s)
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/immunology , Th1 Cells/immunology , Th2 Cells/immunology , Adult , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: High affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptors may activate the mast cell degradation; on the other hand, the ones of low affinity may activate B lymphocytes so they act as antigen-presenting cells and as producers of the same immunoglobulin. As allergic patients produce a great quantity of IgE they are prone to get an infection. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the IgE increase in 28 patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma, or both without having received a previous treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 38 patients with allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, allergic conjunctivitis or atopic dermatitis diagnosis were included. B lymphocytes and NK cells immunophenotypification was made. Flow cytometry was used for cells lecture. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics applying central tendency measurements. RESULTS: No variations were found in the values of any cell lineage. CONCLUSIONS: Proliferation and activation of B lymphocytes should be considered in allergic diseases as its quantification in serum may be a measurement parameter of allergic activity.
Subject(s)
B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Respiratory Hypersensitivity/blood , Respiratory Hypersensitivity/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several drugs for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis and its symptoms have been investigated since some years ago. These drugs are: steroidal-type immunoregulators, immunotherapy and antihistamines. Because of first generation of the last ones originated several side effects, pharmacological research was oriented to the search of formulas with the same of higher efficacy, but with fewer effects on central nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of epinastine 10 mg plus pseudoephedrine 120 mg vs loratadine 5 mg plus pseudoephedrine 120 mg, twice a day, in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative, random, open, prospective, longitudinal and multicenter study was made in 62 patients with an average age of 26.17 +/- 9.75 years (13-56 years) with diagnosis of perennial allergic rhinitis, who attended to external consultation of the different departments of allergy of the participant institutions. All patients were submitted to: complete clinical history, physical exploration, measurement of vital signs, nasal exploration, qualification of allergic symptoms and record of daily symptoms. Moreover, washout during a week and pharmacological treatment was given during two weeks. Symptoms referred by patient and findings of physical exploration during the different visits, as well as rhinoscopic findings, were assessed by a scale of five parameters of rhinitis. Tolerance grade of drugs was assessed based on frequency and severity of side effects. RESULTS: According to the basal clinical assessment symptoms qualification of patients of groups of epinastine and loratadine was of 9.12 +/- 2.78 and 7.90 +/- 2.7, respectively. Seven side effects appeared: three cases of somnolence, one of sickness and one of anxiety in patients of group of loratadine and one case of somnolence and one of dysmenorrhea in the subjects of group of epinestine. Although it did not have statistically significant difference, it is clinically important for patients. Frequency of side effects was higher in the loratadine group. CONCLUSION: Both drugs are efficient for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis.
Subject(s)
Anti-Allergic Agents/therapeutic use , Dibenzazepines/therapeutic use , Ephedrine/therapeutic use , Imidazoles/therapeutic use , Loratadine/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Anti-Allergic Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Allergic Agents/adverse effects , Anxiety/chemically induced , Bronchodilator Agents/administration & dosage , Bronchodilator Agents/adverse effects , Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Dibenzazepines/administration & dosage , Dibenzazepines/adverse effects , Drug Therapy, Combination , Dysmenorrhea/chemically induced , Ephedrine/administration & dosage , Ephedrine/adverse effects , Fatigue/chemically induced , Female , Histamine H1 Antagonists/administration & dosage , Histamine H1 Antagonists/adverse effects , Histamine H1 Antagonists/therapeutic use , Humans , Imidazoles/administration & dosage , Imidazoles/adverse effects , Loratadine/administration & dosage , Loratadine/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Safety , Skin Tests , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a multifactorial disease affecting the functionality of the bronchial tree and immunological changes. OBJECTIVE: To determine if lymphocytes Th-1 have a role in extrinsic asthma of Mexican patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included in the study 39 patients with extrinsic asthma, living in Mexico City, and 27 healthy subjects, without allergy antecedents, with nutritional and immunological characteristics similar. It was determined the following data: production of IL-2 (in 5 patients and 5 controls), its receptor (in all participants), IFN-g (in 8 patients and 5 controls), and TNF-a (in 8 patients and 5 controls). RESULTS: Values of IL-2, its receptor and IFN-gamma were higher in patients than in controls, with significant differences. There were not important differences about TNF-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: Even causes of action change between lymphocytes Th-1 and Th-2 are not known, it is confirmed the moving from Th-2 to Th-1 as an active phenomenon in asthma.
Subject(s)
Asthma/immunology , Th1 Cells/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Interferon-gamma/blood , Interleukin-2/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Receptors, Interleukin-2/blood , Th1 Cells/metabolism , Th2 Cells/immunology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysisABSTRACT
Antecedentes: cualquier enfermedad, cuyos síntomas se determinan por el medio ambiente, debe tener una revisión periódica del conjunto de manifestaciones clínicas acompañantes. Material y método: se evaluó a 438 pacientes con rinitis alérgica. Resultados: se encontró que 58.2 por ciento fueron mujeres y 41.7 por ciento hombres, con edades de siete meses a 67 años. La frecuencia más alta se presentó entre los cinco y nueve años de edad (23.05 por ciento). Por lo que se refiere a los síntomas se encontró: rinorrea en 91.3 por ciento, obstrucción nasal en 87.8 por ciento, estornudos en salva en 84.9 por ciento, prurito nasal en 81.2 por ciento, epistaxis en 23.7 por ciento y sequedad nasal en 22.1 por ciento. Conclusión: en la rinitis alérgica los fenómenos vasomotores y vasculares se están incrementando en los enfermos que nacieron o residen en la Ciudad de México y sus alrededores, por un lapso aproximado de cinco años.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Middle Aged , Environment , Rhinitis , Symptomatology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosisABSTRACT
La fagocitosis es una función primordial en los padecimientos broncopulmonares. Es importante su valoración en asma bronquial porque se han encontrado alteraciones tanto congénitas como adquiridas en esta enfermedad, lo que hace importante su estudio. Utilizamos leucocitos polimorfonucleares para estudiar los cuatro pasos de la fagocitosis: adherencia inmunitaria, receptores celulares, endocitosis y digestión en 52 pacientes con asma bronquial extrínseca sin tratamiento previo que alteraran la fagocitosis. Conclusión: No encontramos diferencias significativas en los pacientes asmáticos en relación con individuos normales
Subject(s)
Cell Adhesion/immunology , Neutrophils/physiology , Neutrophils/immunology , Nitroblue Tetrazolium , Phagocytosis/immunology , Phagocytosis/physiology , Receptors, IgGABSTRACT
Seleccionamos 30 pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica para analizar su inmunidad humoral y celular, utilizando biometría hemática, cuantificación de inmunoglobulinas, dosificación de los factores C3 y C4 de complemento sérico, pruebas cutáneas de lectura inmediata por escarificación con aeroalergenos del Valle de México, y valoración de inmunidad celular "in vivo" e "in vitro" como parámetros. Analizando nuestros resultados, únicamente encontramos hipergamaglobulinemia IgE, los demás parámetros estudiados estuvieron dentro de límites normales
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Humans , Male , Female , Leukocyte Count , Biomarkers/analysis , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/immunology , Serum Globulins/analysis , Vaccines/standardsABSTRACT
Describimos el caso de un paciente del sexo masculino de 19 años de edad con diagnóstico de angioedema hereditario (AN) a quien le realizamos estudios inmunológicos, como son: dosificación de inmunoglobulinas, complemento, identificación de alergenos o rasgos de autoinmunidad, encontrando asociación con los antígenos de histocompatibilidad DRI, DR4. Se comenta el hallazgo
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Angioedema/diagnosis , Angioedema/physiopathology , Angioedema/therapy , Autoimmune Diseases/diagnosis , Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins/administration & dosage , Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins/deficiency , Histocompatibility AntigensABSTRACT
Con objeto de identificar fenómenos de autoinmunidad en la alergia respiratoria seleccionamos 68 pacientes, 30 con diagnóstico de rinitis alérgica perenne (RAP) y 38 con rinitis alérgica perenne mas asma bronquial (RA+AB) a quienes se les cuantificó anticuerpos antinucleares y antimúsculo liso por técnica de inmunofluorescencia indirecta, encontrándolos negativos en todos los casos
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Antibodies, Antinuclear/analysis , Asthma/diagnosis , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/physiology , Immunoglobulins/physiology , Nasal Mucosa/physiopathology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosis , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/immunology , Fluorescent Antibody TechniqueABSTRACT
Se valoraron los efectos de la contaminación ambiental de la ciudad de México, D.F., en 100 individuos con función pulmonar normal que habían nacido en esta ciudad o que tenían más de 5 años de residencia. Se encontraron alteraciones del 20 por ciento en sus valores del volumen respiratorio forzado del primer segundo y capacidad pulmonar total en relación con los valores reportados como normales. Concluimos que la contaminación ambiental está afectando la función respiratoria de los residentes de esta ciudad.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Humans , Male , Female , Environmental Pollution/adverse effects , Environmental Health/statistics & numerical data , Methods , Mexico , Respiratory Tract Diseases/etiology , Respiratory Tract Diseases/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Presentamos el caso de una paciente que desarrolló una urticaria por contacto asociada a rinitis-alérgica al estar en contacto con pelo de perro y gato. A pesar de que la transferencia pasiva resultó negativa se logró integrar el diagnóstico etiológico con otras pruebas de laboratorio y la historia clínica
Subject(s)
Humans , Adolescent , Cats , Animals , Female , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/etiology , Urticaria/etiology , Hair/immunologyABSTRACT
Se comparan los niveles de IgE total, con los de macrófagos y neutrófilos sistémicos en 31 pacientes con diagnóstico de asma bronquial, sin tratamiento previo, para tratar de correlacionar la elevación de IgE con estas células como orientación en padecimientos alérgicos. Nuestros resultados no demostraron ninguna variación significativa en los parámetros estudiados
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Asthma/diagnosis , Immunoglobulin E/analysis , Macrophages/analysis , Neutrophils/analysisABSTRACT
Estudiamos 20 pacientes diagnosticados como dermatosis polimorfa (DPL) sin tratamiento previo que altere el aparato inmunológico, valorando el número de linfocitos "B", linfocitos "T" totales, subpoblaciones de linfocitos "T" y relaciön cooperación/supresión. Encontramos una disminución de linfocitos "T" totales en sangre periférica, un porcentaje incrementado de linfocitos "T" en cooperadores/supresores y aumento de la relación cooperación/ supresor. Estos resultados sugieren probables alteraciones en los mecanismos de regulación.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Middle Aged , Male , Female , Photosensitivity Disorders/immunology , B-Lymphocytes , T-LymphocytesABSTRACT
Se efectuó la valoración de Inmunidad Humoral y Celular en 30 pacientes con Asma Bronquial Extrínseca (Alérgica) y 30 individuos sanos, todos entre 15 y 45 años de edad y en similares condiciones tanto sociales como nutricionales, encontrando que los pacientes asmáticos cursan con una hipergamaglobulinemia de IgE y desbalance muy importante en las subpoblaciones de linfocitos T con alteración de los linfocitos T supresores/citotóxicos (24.56 ñ 7.21) sanos (29.73 ñ 5.12) en porcentajes y linfocitos T totales disminuidos en técnicas de rosetas (40.43 ñ 10.69%) (normales 52.95 ñ 5.60%) y por anticuerpos monoclonales (57.93 ñ 7.06%) (individuos sanos 63.58 ñ 8.11%)
