Low frequency of a decreased ankle brachial index and associated conditions in the practice of internal medicine in a Turkish population sample.

AIM: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a less known condition in the practice of internal medicine, mostly due to lack of specific symptoms and low rates of physician awareness. However, cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence is not significantly different among patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic disease. Ankle brachial index (ABI) measurement is an easy and cost-effective tool for the diagnosis of PAD. In the present study, frequency of low ABI and associated factors were investigated in the setting of internal medicine practice. METHODS: Patients over 70 years of age and patients between 50 and 69 years with CVD or at least one atherothrombosis risk factor were included in the study. ABI was determined with handheld Doppler. Measurements were determined for both lower extremities. Lower of the right or left ABIs was taken as the final value. Low ABI was defined as ≤0.9. RESULTS: A total of 303 subjects between 50 and 83 years of age were enrolled (female/male: 186/117). Mean ABI was 1.14±0.15. A low ABI was detected in 15 cases (4.95%). Prevalence was 7% in females and 1.7% in males (P=0.039). Low ABI value was not associated with any of the demographic parameters, presence of major risk factors or basic laboratory values. A high ABI was found by 5.6%. CONCLUSION: In the present study, frequency of PAD as determined by ABI was found lower than those reported previously in most European countries. Nonetheless, our results showed that PAD affects at least 1 in 20 outpatients in the practice of internal medicine.

Prevalence of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to cow's milk in infants based on skin prick test and questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: Cow's milk (CM) hypersensitivity is one of the most frequent hypersensitivities in infants. The objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence of immediate hypersensitivity to CM based on skin prick test results and to evaluate associated allergic conditions ascertained by questionnaire in infants living in Istanbul. METHODS: All infants born between June 2001 and May 2002 were recalled to the hospital according to their dates of birth, and 1015 infants aged between 8-18 months were included in the study. An interview was conducted with each mother and a questionnaire requesting data on cow's milk hypersensitivity and other allergic diseases was completed during this interview. A cow's milk skin prick test (SPT) was applied to all infants. An open CM challenge test was then carried out on infants with a positive SPT to CM. RESULTS: Among the 1015 infants who underwent SPT, six (0.59 %) demonstrated immediate hyper-sensitivity to the CM allergen and three (0.29 %) developed a positive response to the CM challenge test. The results of the questionnaire revealed that 112 (11.0 %) of the infants had family history of allergic diseases, 96 infants (9.5 %) had a positive history of recurrent wheezing, and 166 (16.4 %) had a history of skin rash resembling atopic dermatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CM hyper-sensitivity, with its low prevalence, might not be a serious health concern in Turkish infants.

Prevalence of egg sensitization in Turkish infants based on skin prick test.

AIM: Egg allergy is one of the most frequent allergies in infants. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of sensitization to egg in infants based on skin prick test results and to evaluate associated allergic conditions by questionnaire. METHODS: All infants born between June 2001 and May 2002 were recalled to the hospital according to their dates of birth, and 1015 infants aged between 8-18 months were included in the study. An interview was conducted with each mother and a questionnaire requesting data on food allergy and other allergic diseases was completed during this interview. An egg skin prick test (whole egg) was applied to all infants. RESULTS: Positive skin prick test results were recorded in 19 infants (1.87 %). There was no difference between the prick test-positive and -negative groups with respect to any of the demographic characteristics investigated (gender, age, birth weight, egg consumption, age of introduction of egg and other solids, breastfeeding). No significant association was demonstrated between sensitization to egg and family history of allergy. Moreover, there was no association between sensitization to egg and occurrence of atopic dermatitis, recurrent wheezing, gastrointestinal symptoms and doctor diagnosis of asthma. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of egg sensitization based on skin prick test results has been found as 1.87 % among Turkish infants in Istanbul. However, no significant relationship was found between allergic sensitization to egg and occurrence of allergic diseases in this study population.

Prevalence of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to cow’s milk in infants based on skin prick test and questionnaire

Objective: Cow’s milk (CM) hypersensitivity is one of the most frequent hypersensitivities in infants.The objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence of immediate hypersensitivity to CM based on skin prick test results and to evaluate associated allergic conditions ascertained by questionnaire in infants living in Istanbul. Methods: All infants born between June 2001 and May 2002 were recalled to the hospital according to their dates of birth, and 1015 infants aged between 8-18 months were included in the study. An interview was conducted with each mother and a questionnairere questing data on cow’s milk hypersensitivity and other allergic diseases was completed during this interview. A cow’s milk skin prick test (SPT) was applied to all infants. An open CM challenge test was then carried out on infants with a positive SPT to CM. Results: Among the 1015 infants who underwent SPT, six (0.59%) demonstrated immediate hypersensitivity to the CM allergen and three (0.29 %) developed a positive response to the CM challenge test. The results of the questionnaire revealed that 112 (11.0 %) of the infants had family history of allergic diseases, 96 infants (9.5 %) had a positive history of recurrent wheezing, and 166 (16.4 %) had a history of skin rash resembling atopic dermatitis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that CM hypersensitivity, with its low prevalence, might not be a serious health concern in Turkish infants

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Prevalence of egg sensitization in Turkish infants based on skin prick test

Aim: Egg allergy is one of the most frequent allergies in infants. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of sensitization to egg in infants based on skin prick test results and to evaluate associated allergic conditions by questionnaire. Methods: All infants born between June 2001 and May 2002 were recalled to the hospital according to their dates of birth, and 1015 infants aged between 8-18 months were included in the study. An interview was conducted with each mother and a questionnaire requesting data on food allergy and other allergic diseases was completed during this interview. An egg skin prick test (whole egg) was applied to all infants. Results: Positive skin prick test results were recorded in 19 infants (1.87 %). There was no difference between the prick test-positive and -negative groups with respect to any of the demographic characteristics investigated (gender, age, birth weight, egg consumption, age of introduction of egg and other solids, breastfeeding). No significant association was demonstrated between sensitization to egg and family history of allergy. Moreover, there was no association between sensitization to egg and occurrence of atopic dermatitis, recurrent wheezing, gastrointestinal symptoms and doctor diagnosis of asthma. Conclusion: The prevalence of egg sensitization based on skin prick test results has been found as 1.87 % among Turkish infants in Istanbul. However, no significant relationship was found between allergic sensitization to egg and occurrence of allergic diseases in this study population

No disponible