ABSTRACT
The interpretation of specific IgE test results in patients with suspected food allergies is not always straightforward. In fact, specific IgE test results for food allergens can provide physicians with more questions than answers. Based on the description of two patient cases, we discuss the interpretation of specific IgE test results for food allergens; the description includes the diagnostic process, cross-reactivity and component-resolved diagnostics.
Subject(s)
Food Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Allergens/immunology , Child , Cross Reactions/immunology , Female , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Humans , Male , Malus/immunology , Peanut Hypersensitivity/immunologyABSTRACT
A 45-year-old woman was diagnosed with carotenaemia due to excessive intake of beta-carotene in a vitamin drink.
Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements/adverse effects , Skin Pigmentation/drug effects , beta Carotene/administration & dosage , beta Carotene/blood , Female , Hand , Humans , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Larva Migrans/drug therapy , Travel , Adult , Humans , Larva Migrans/etiology , Larva Migrans/prevention & control , MaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: About 25% of greenhouse flower and/or ornamental plant growers sensitised to workplace flowers or moulds have occupational asthma, a disease that is suffered by 8% of the growers who cultivate these crops. AIM: To document a case of occupational asthma due to IgE mediated allergy to the flower Molucella laevis. METHODS: and RESULTS: There was a history of work related seasonal asthmatic and rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms in a Molucella laevis grower. Bronchial obstruction following exposure to Molucella laevis was documented by a fall in FEV(1) from 89% to 73% of predicted during seasonal exposure to Molucella laevis. Daily PEF measurements showed a fall from 500 to 250 l/min during this period following withdrawal of inhaled steroids. Bronchial reactivity to inhaled methacholine was increased (PC(20) 1.45 mg/ml). Confirmation of sensitisation to Molucella laevis flower pollen extract was done using an SPT and by demonstration of Molucella laevis specific serum IgE (18 IU/ml; class 4). Specific inhalation challenge with Molucella laevis extract provoked an early and late asthmatic reaction (EAR and LAR) with a fall in FEV(1) compared with control day of 40% and 53% respectively, with associated 5.1-fold increase in absolute sputum eosinophil cell counts and 2.9-fold increase in neutrophil cell counts.
Subject(s)
Allergens/adverse effects , Asthma/etiology , Immunoglobulin E/adverse effects , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Occupational Exposure , Pollen/adverse effects , Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects , Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis , Albuterol/therapeutic use , Asthma/drug therapy , Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Management of respiratory failure in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) typically requires ventilatory assistance. If traditional approaches to mechanical ventilation and adjunctive measures fail to succeed in achieving adequate oxygenation, alternative measures should be considered. We describe an ARDS patient with respiratory failure caused by a severe Chlamydiaceae species community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Aerosolized prostacyclin (PGI(2)) treatment was successfully instituted for refractory hypoxemia.
