Cromolyn sodium in the treatment of asthma: its effectiveness and use.

Thirty-six asthmatic children received placebo and cromolyn sodium, a new drug, in a double-blind crossover study; the majority were not using corticosteroids. Significant decreases in wheezing, breathlessness at rest, and cough occurred when the active drug was compared to placebo. Marked preference for cromolyn over placebo was expressed at the end of the study. Our results agree with previous reports on the effectiveness of cromolyn sodium. We found this drug to be especially useful as an adjunct to other treatment in the control of asthmatic children.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome with 18-year survival. Treatment with transfer factor.

An 18-year-old boy with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome has severe symptoms of thrombocytopenia, recurrent infections, and atopic eczema. We believe he is the fifth oldest patient described with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Recently, a malignant lymphoma of the histiocytic type appeared in the skin, while he was receiving transfer factor. To our knowledge, he is the only reported patient with lymphoma in the skin, but four other patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome have developed malignant lymphoreticular lymphoma during transfer factor therapy. Detailed immunologic studies show failure to make a sustained antibody response to various antigens, lack of delayed hypersensitivity responsiveness, and failure of proliferative response to antigens in in vitro cultures. The IgE and IgA levels were high, and the IgM and IgG levels were low. Although clinical improvement followed transfer factor therapy, development of the malignant lymphoma was not prevented.

Cromolyn sodium in the treatment of children with severe, perennial asthma.

Cromolyn sodium is a recently introduced drug used in the prophylactic treatment of severe, perennial, bronchial asthma, particularly in the pediatric age group. In a multicenter trial, 276 chronic asthmatic patients of eight pediatric allergists entered a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study lasting 12 weeks. Test compounds of cromolyn sodium or placebo were inhaled four times a day, and daily scores were kept of symptom severity as well as frequency of use of other medications. Patients had statistically significant lower average daily symptom scores when treated with cromolyn sodium as compared to treatment with placebo. A strong subjective preference for cromolyn sodium was expressed by 60% of those completing the trial, versus 9% for placebo. The patients' need for other symptomatic medications also dropped significantly during the cromolyn treatment period.

New growth charts: soy, cow, and breast milk comparison.

PIP: Weight and length measurements were recorded for 1583 babies during the 1st year of life. The population sample was fairly constant and composed of children from white, middle and upper income families seen in the private practice of 11 pediatricians in Dallas, Texas. This study was part of a larger research effort to determine how diets during the 1st 6 months affect subsequent development of allergy. The babies were subdivided into 3 groups according to family history for allergy and 3 groups according to diet (cow, breast or soy milk) during the 1st 6 months. After examination at birth, the babies were reexamined monthly up to 6 months of age and bimonthly thereafter up to age 1. Nearly 22,000 observations were made in all. Tables and charts were constructed showing mean weight and length measurements plotted from birth through 38 weeks against 24 possible combinations of sex, family allergy history, and diet. No significant difference was detectable between subgroups when differences in birth weight were taken into account. Compared with the Iowa norms for infant growth which were established from measurements taken 1926-49, these babies grew taller in the 1st year of life; weight differences were minimal. Revised infant growth charts, more consistent with today's growth patterns, are needed.^ieng