ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: It is known that the administration of the drug during the oral aspirin challenge (OAC) can cause hypersensitivity symptoms not only from the respiratory system or skin, but also from the cardiovascular system. AIM: To assess the occurrence and nature of cardiovascular adverse events during the OAC in patients suspected of hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 52 patients with symptoms of hypersensitivity to aspirin (ASA) or other NSAIDs in the form of skin reactions or respiratory response in anamnesis. Patients were treated with OAC and simultaneously were subject to monitoring of clinical manifestations of hypersensitivity to ASA/NSAIDs, ventilation disorders and cardiovascular functions. RESULTS: The most common reaction of the cardiovascular system during OAC was tachycardia or supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles, regardless of the day of the study and the result of OAC. Supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia was recorded incidentally. Atrial or ventricular fibrillation or flutter was not observed. There was no evidence of any ischemic heart disease. In 2 patients, hypotension was registered, but only 1 of them required typical treatment of anaphylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: No clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias were recorded during OAC. The changes observed in the records of blood pressure and ECG monitoring show that OAC performed in accordance with the current guidelines does not pose a high risk to the patient's health and life as a result of cardiovascular reactions.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Chronic urticaria (CU), in view of its manifestations (pruritus, wheals), chronic and recurrent nature is very bothersome for patients and significantly influences their quality of life. AIM: To assess the importance of sleep problems and sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) declared by CU patients, for their quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with CU at an asymptomatic stage or with minimal symptoms and signs were qualified for the study. In these patients, assessment of urticaria severity, QoL and SRBDs incidence was carried out. RESULTS: In a questionnaire study (CU-Q2oL), about 54% of the patients with CU complained of sleeping problems, about 80% reported significant fatigue and lack of concentration in the daytime. Respiratory polygraphy, an objective measure of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) demonstrated their higher incidence in patients with CU than in the general population, but these disorders were mild and had no influence on the reduced quality of life of the study patients, compared with a group of patients without SRBDs. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of SRBDs was found in 25% of patients with CU at asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic stages. The SRBDs in those patients were mild, required no treatment and their occurrence did not cause any significant reduction in their quality of life.
