Summary
Allergic asthma is a prominent disease especially during childhood. Indoor allergens, in general, and particularly house dust mites (HDM) are the most prevalent sensitizers associated with ...allergic asthma. Available data show that 65–130 million people are mite‐sensitized world‐wide and as many as 50% of these are asthmatic. In fact, sensitization to HDM in the first years of life can produce devastating effects on pulmonary function leading to asthmatic syndromes that can be fatal. To date, there has been considerable research into the pathological pathways and structural changes associated with allergic asthma. However, limitations related to the disease heterogeneity and a lack of knowledge into its pathophysiology have impeded the generation of valuable data needed to appropriately phenotype patients and, subsequently, treat this disease. Here, we report a systematic and integral analysis of the disease, from airway remodelling to the immune response taking place throughout the disease stages. We present an overview of metabolomics, the management of complex multifactorial diseases through the analysis of all possible metabolites in a biological sample, obtaining a global interpretation of biological systems. Special interest is placed on the challenges to obtain biological samples and the methodological aspects to acquire relevant information, focusing on the identification of novel biomarkers associated with specific phenotypes of allergic asthma. We also present an overview of the metabolites cited in the literature, which have been related to inflammation and immune response in asthma and other allergy‐related diseases.
The increasing prevalence of food allergy affects both patients and their families. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an online educational program designed for parents ...and caregivers of children with food allergies. The program was developed by a multidisciplinary group comprising health care professionals, researchers, and expert patients under the participatory medicine model.
Participants took a 2-week online educational program covering major topics in food allergy management. General knowledge about the disease, symptoms, treatment, and topics relevant to families' daily lives were evaluated. The contents included educational videos, online forums, and live video chats. A pretest/posttest questionnaire survey was used to evaluate the impact of the program.
A total of 207 participants enrolled in the educational program, which was completed by 130 (62.8%). Knowledge acquisition improved significantly following participation in the program in 15 out of 30 items (50%), reaching P<.001 for 8 items (26.7%). Of the 207 participants who started the program, 139 (67.1%) visited online forums, and 27.5% attended video chats. Average overall satisfaction with the educational program was 8.78 (on a scale of 0 to 10).
The results obtained show that parents improved their knowledge in all areas of food allergy. The high level of satisfaction among participants suggests that digital learning tools are effective and motivational, enabling patients to acquire appropriate knowledge and thus increasing their quality of life.
Allergy Living and Learning (ALL) is a European initiative designed to increase knowledge and understanding of people living with allergies in order to improve respiratory allergy care.
To ...investigate diagnostic and treatment patterns associated with respiratory allergies, patients' perception of their treatment, and restrictions on daily activities.
Using a telephone-based randomized screening method, we recruited and analyzed 7004 patients (aged 16-60 years) with self-reported respiratory allergic disease from 10 European countries. Patients answered questions assessing their knowledge, experience, and perception of their condition and its treatment. Data analyses were descriptive.
The most prevalent conditions were allergic rhinitis (66%) and asthma (26%), and the average duration of the symptoms of respiratory allergy was 14.5 years. Over 30% of patients had never had a specific diagnostic test. About 80% of patients used medication for their respiratory allergy, and 10% of those not receiving treatment had severe symptoms. One-third of patients were not satisfied with their treatment, and two-thirds experienced restrictions in daily activities. Medication was most commonlytaken in the form of tablets and nasal spray. Allergy-specific immunotherapy was received by 16% of patients. Knowledge of specific immunotherapy was low overall and varied widely by country: 30% of patients (country range, 10%-52%) had never heard of this treatment option.
A notable proportion of individuals with respiratory allergy in Europe are underdiagnosed, undertreated, and dissatisfied with their treatment. Addressing these shortcomings may help to optimize respiratory allergy care and, ultimately, quality of life.
Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem. Over 600 million patients suffer from this disease worldwide. ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma), an evidence-based document, was produced ...and published in 2001 using an extensive review of the available literature. The ARIA 2008 update was recently published and covers tertiary prevention of allergy, pharmacologic treatments, and immunotherapy. Nonallergic rhinitis is still a controversial area and may pose some treatment problems. Another important aspect of the ARIA update is the comorbidity of allergic rhinitis, in particular, asthma. The recommendations of the 2008 ARIA Update, as in 2001, are that patients with allergic rhinitis, particularly if persistent, should be evaluated for asthma, patients with asthma should be evaluated for rhinitis, and an effective and safe combination strategy should be used to treat diseases of the upper and lower airways. Over the last few years, severa studies performed in Spain report new data on the prevalence of allergic rhinitis sensitivity to common aeroallergens, comorbidity of allergic rhinitis and asthma, and impact on quality of life. The studies reviewed in this manuscript confirm--as do those from other developed countries--the enormous impact of the disease on society and health care in Spain.
Abstract Background Omalizumab is indicated in patients with severe allergic asthma not controlled by high-dose inhaled glucocorticoids and long-acting beta-agonists. Few data are available on the ...profile of patients treated with this drug in routine clinical practice in Spain. Objective To describe the profile of patients with severe allergic asthma treated with omalizumab and the course of the disease after a period of treatment. Methods Retrospective, multicentre study, recording the data on patients of either sex and ≥12 years with uncontrolled severe allergic asthma, previously treated with omalizumab. Data were evaluated in relation to pulmonary function, symptoms, quality of life, and concomitant anti-asthma treatment before the prescription of omalizumab and at the time of the study visit. Results 214 patients were evaluable (mean age = 48.2 ± 17.7 years; mean age at the time of diagnosis = 26.6 ± 16.5 years). 90.7% had experienced exacerbations the year before receiving omalizumab, and the mean total IgE level was 273 ± 205.4 IU/ml. The mean monthly dose was 380.5 ± 185.4 mg. Compared with the baseline situation, differences were observed after treatment with omalizumab in mean FEV1 (62.7 ± 15.9% vs. 70.8 ± 18.7%), in the proportion of patients requiring oral corticosteroids (47.7% vs. 14.0%), and in the ACQ and AQLQ scores. 32.7% of the patients received doses not recommended by the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Conclusions Profile of asthmatic patients treated with omalizumab predominantly corresponds to uncontrolled severe asthma cases, in accordance with SPC's indications. The results of the study suggest a favourable clinical course similar to that observed in other studies.
PDF
