A real-life ImmunoCAT study: impact of molecular diagnosis through ImmunoCAPTM ISAC 112 on immunotherapy prescription in pollen-polysensitized patients in Catalonia, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Molecular diagnosis in allergology helps to identify multiple allergenic molecules simultaneously. The use of purified and/or recombinant allergens increases the accuracy of individual sensitization profiles in allergic patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of molecular diagnosis through the ImmunoCAPTM ISAC 112 microarray on etiological diagnosis and specific immunotherapy (SIT) prescription. This was compared to the use of conventional diagnoses in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis and/or allergic asthma, sensitized to three or more pollen allergens of different botanical species. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted in patients aged 3-25 years who received care at the Allergology service of 14 hospitals in Catalonia from 2017 to 2020. Allergology diagnosis was established based on the patient's clinical assessment and the results of the skin prick test and specific immunoglobulin E assays. Subsequently, molecular diagnosis was conducted using ImmunoCAPTM ISAC® 112 to recombinant and/or purified allergen components. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were included; 35 (32.1%) were pediatric patients and 74 (67.9%) were adolescents or young adults (mean age: 18 years), with 58.0% being females. A change of 51.0% was observed in SIT prescription following molecular etiological diagnosis by means of a multi-parameter microarray. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular diagnosis by means of multi-parameter tests increases the accuracy of etiological diagnosis and helps to define an accurate composition of SIT.

Characterization and Factors Associated with Poor Asthma Control in Adults with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma.

A study was conducted in 98 adult patients diagnosed with severe eosinophilic asthma (73.5% women, mean age 47.2 years) and followed prospectively for 1 year. The aim of the study was to characterize this population and to identify factors associated with poor prognosis at 1 year of follow-up. At the initial visit, uncontrolled severe asthma was diagnosed in 87.7% of patients. Allergic sensitization was observed in 81.7% (polysensitization in 17.3%), with clinically significant allergic asthma in 45%. The mean percentage of sputum eosinophils was 4.7% (standard deviation(SD) 6.3%) and the mean (SD) blood eosinophil count 467 (225) cells/µL. Almost half of the patients (48.3%) had sputum eosinophilia (>3% eosinophils). Sputum eosinophils correlated significantly with peripheral eosinophilia (p = 0.004) and, to a lesser extent, with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) (p = 0.04). After 1 year, 48 patients (49%) had uncontrolled asthma in all visits, and 50 (51%) had controlled asthma in some visits. Airway obstruction (FEV1 < 80% predicted) was the main reason for uncontrolled asthma. In the multivariate analysis, an obstructive pattern (odds ratio (OR) 7.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.41-23.03, p < 0.0001) and the patient's age (OR 1.045, 95% CI 1.005-1.086, p = 0.026) were independent predictors of poor asthma control. In adult-onset and long-standing asthma, serum interleukin (IL) IL-17 was higher in the uncontrolled asthma group. This study contributes to characterizing patients with severe eosinophilic asthma in real-world clinical practice.

A Retrospective Nationwide Non-Interventional Study of an Aqueous Sublingual Immunotherapy Formulation Administered with a 200-µL Dosing Pump.

BACKGROUND: Convenient dosing is a key component of treatment adherence and thus efficacy and safety. Aqueous sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) formulations can be administered with a dosing pump that delivers 200 µL of volume per actuation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the use of Staloral® 300 Rapid in its new dosing pump presentation and to evaluate the safety and satisfaction from both the patient and doctor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective non-interventional study in a population (aged 5 years or over) of individuals with allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma who were being treated with aqueous 300 index of reactivity SLIT formulations of various allergens (grass pollen, tree pollen, house dust mites). Based on a detailed, SLIT-specific, patient self-questionnaire (Quartis®) and the inspection of medical records, we assessed the characteristics of the SLIT, safety, patient satisfaction and willingness to continue SLIT. The physician's satisfaction with the treatment was measured on a 0-100 visual analogue scale. Adverse events were coded with the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. RESULTS: A total of 801 valid patients were included (52.4% male; mean ± standard deviation age: 25.9 ± 17.2 years; mean time since diagnosis: 4.56 ± 4.68 years; mean time using the previous dosing pump: 19.2 ± 13.0 months; time using the 200-µL dosing pump: 14.95 ± 3.80 months). Among the study population, 317 subjects comprised the paediatric subgroup (57%: male; mean age: 9.8 ± 2.5 years). Overall, 54 patients (6.7%) reported a total of 68 adverse events (including 51 gastrointestinal adverse events). The large majority of adverse events were mild, local and transient and did not require treatment. There were no severe adverse events. The level of patient satisfaction with the ease of SLIT administration was high (84.3% overall, and 82.6% in the paediatric subgroup). The mean ± standard deviation visual analogue scale score for physician satisfaction with the treatment was 70.6 ± 25.1 out of 100. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of 300 index of reactivity SLIT with a 200-µL dosing pump is safe, well tolerated and associated with good levels of patient satisfaction.

Experiencia en una Unidad Ambulatoria de Deshabituación Tabáquica / Experience in the Smoking Cessation Outpatient Unit

OBJETIVO: Analizar los datos extraídos durante año y medio de experiencia en la Unidad de Deshabituación Tabáquica del Centro de Atención Especializada de Santa Coloma de Gramenet, provincia de Barcelona. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo y longitudinal sobre 95 personas programadas desde el 17 de enero de 2017 al 17 de julio de 2018, realizándose un total de 259 visitas. Se analizaron variables de asistencia, datos demográficos, anamnesis, historia de tabaquismo, exploración física, dependencia tabáquica, motivación y tratamiento cognitivo conductual y farmacológico para el abordaje del paciente. Los datos fueron clasificados y recogidos en una base de datos (Excel). RESULTADOS: Un 67,4% de los pacientes que habían sido citados acudieron a la primera visita; de ellos, un 52,63% fueron hombres respecto del 47,37% que fueron mujeres, siendo el promedio de edad de 55,75 años. La comorbilidad más frecuente fue la broncopatía (18,18%). Realizaron intentos previos de abandono el 84,38% de los pacientes. La dependencia física fue moderada, en un 62,5%. El 71,88% se encontraron preparados en la fase del cambio en la primera visita. La pauta farmacológica más común en monoterapia fue vareniclina en un 31,25%. En las visitas sucesivas obtuvieron una abstinencia tabáquica completa el 26,66% de los casos. CONCLUSIONES: Poco más de una cuarta parte de los pacientes estudiados consiguieron la abstinencia completa. Es por esto que es necesario conocer, innovar y divulgar las terapias efectivas que se vayan desarrollando para el abandono tabáquico a fin de mejorar dichos resultados

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the data obtained during one and a half years of experience in the Smoking Cessation Unit of the Specialized Care Center of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, province of Barcelona. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective and longitudinal descriptive study on 95 persons with scheduled visits between 17 January 2017 to 17 July 2018, with a total of 259 visits. The following variables were analyzed: attendance, demographic, anamnesis, smoking history, physical examination, smoking dependence, motivation and cognitive behavior and drug treatment for the approach to the patient. The data were classified and included in a database (Excel). RESULTS: 67.4% of the patients who had an appointment came to the first visit, 52.63% of whom were men versus 47.37% women, with a mean age of 55.75 years. The most frequent comorbidity was bronchial disease (18.18%). A total of 84.38% of the patients had attempted to stop smoking previously. Physical dependence was moderate in 62.5%. 71.88% were in a state of preparation in the change phase in the first visit. The most common drug regime in monotherapy was varenicline in 31.25%. Complete smoking abstinence was obtained in the successive visits in 26.66% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Only a little more than one fourth of the patients studied achieved complete abstinence. That is why it is necessary to know, innovate and disseminate the effective therapies that are being developed for smoking cessation in order to improve said results