Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Case histories are analyzed of 1565 hay fever patients first attending an allergy unit. The mean age of the test persons was 19.5 years. 40% were in the age group 5 to 15 years. The sex distribution showed a slight but statistically significant prevalence of males (56.6%). 56.8% had a positive family history of allergies and 44.2% had other allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis (31.6%), perennial rhinitis and perennial asthma (19% each), urticaria, food allergy and drug allergy (5% each) and insect sting allergy (3%). A clear cut peak both for rhinitis and for asthmatic symptoms %30.5% and 20.2% respectively) was found in the age group 5--9 years. Up to the 14th year the symptoms of pollen allergy were already exhibited by 68.5% of the patients. 97% of the pollen allergics suffered from rhinitis, 95% from conjunctivitis, 40% from bronchial asthma and another 20% from tracheobronchitis or asthmatic bronchitis. As additional symptoms of pollen allergy due to haematogenous spread of the pollen antigens we observed a seasonal form of atopic dermatitis in 3%, a seasonal urticaria or angioedema in 3.5%, migraine in 6.3% and arthralgia, gastro-intestinal troubles and fever in fewer than 1% each. Almost 98% of the patients were sensitized to grass or cereal pollens. However, only 18% suffered from an isolated grass pollinosis (summer hay fever). The other patients were additionally clinically sensitized by other pollens with different blossoming periods, i.e. 35% by three pollens responsible for the so-called spring pollinosis, and 50% by weeds (plantain, nettle, mugwort) the cause of late summer pollinosis. Only 13 patients suffered from an isolated spring pollinosis (hazel, alder, birch, willow). In 14 patients (not quite 1%) with a clear-cut history and clinical symptoms of pollinosis, all the skin tests were negative. In these cases the sensitization was probably restricted to the respiratory tract. Despite the new in-vitro methods such as the RAST, carefully performed skin tests linked to a knowledge of the pollen calendars of the region and the allergological history remain the most reliable and cheapest procedure for the specific diagnosis of pollen allergy.
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PMID:[Pollionosis: I. Findings on the clinical aspects and the pollen spectrum in 1565 pollen-sensitive patients]. 49 10

Ketotifen is an orally active prophylactic agent for the management of bronchial asthma and allergic disorders. Accumulated evidence indicates that after 6 to 12 weeks of administration, ketotifen significantly reduces respiratory symptoms and the need for concomitant antiasthmatic drugs in about 70% and 50%, respectively, of patients with mild to moderate bronchial asthma. However, absolute improvement in lung function is generally slight. Ketotifen also has pronounced antihistaminic and antianaphylactic properties which result in moderate to marked symptom improvement in the majority of patients with atopic dermatitis, seasonal or perennial rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, chronic or acute urticaria or food allergy. Comparative trials with established agents--notably sodium cromoglycate (cromolyn sodium) in asthma and histamine H1-antagonists in allergic disorders--indicate that ketotifen has comparable clinical utility. Unlike inhaled sodium cromoglycate, ketotifen ameliorates the symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and dermatitis when present together in atopic patients. Patient acceptance of ketotifen is good, although sedation can be troublesome in older children and adults for the initial 2 weeks of treatment. Weight gain is another notable effect in a small percentage of patients. Thus, ketotifen appears to be a useful agent for the management of allergic disorders and bronchial asthma, particularly in patients for whom oral therapy is preferred. Although a lengthy run-in period is needed in the treatment of asthma, in those patients who respond, continued reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms and in the use of additional antiasthmatic drugs can be anticipated.
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PMID:Ketotifen. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic use in asthma and allergic disorders. 222 22

Cetirizine is a new anti-allergic compound with a potent, long-acting, and specific antihistaminic property. Strongly active in the therapy of urticaria and seasonal or perennial rhinitis, it has been shown to inhibit the in vivo eosinophil attraction at skin sites challenged with allergen in atopic patients. In the present work, we confirmed that, at a therapeutical concentration, this molecule had a potent inhibitory action in vitro on eosinophil chemotaxis induced either by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or platelet-activating factor and also on the IgE-dependent stimulation of platelets. These observations appear in favour of a possible role for cetirizine in the modulation of inflammatory cell interactions in allergic processes.
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PMID:Inhibition of human eosinophil chemotaxis and of the IgE-dependent stimulation of human blood platelets by cetirizine. 252 57

The efficacy of hyposensitization with a standardised extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus) conjugated to alginate and containing known amounts of antigen P1 (Conjuvac) was tested in a double blind, placebo controlled, multi-centre study in 66 adult patients with perennial rhinitis. Patients received 11 weekly injections of increasing concentrations of Conjuvac containing from 56 x 10(1) to 448 10(3) IU D. pteronyssinus or placebo injections of the alginate diluent to some of which 5 micrograms of histamine has been randomly added. This was followed by 15 monthly injections of Conjuvac or placebo. The severity of nasal blockage, sneezing and rhinorrhoea was recorded twice daily in a diary and visual analogue assessments (VAS) made at each clinic visit. Nasal provocation testing (NPT) was performed with increasing concentrations of the same extract of D. pteronyssinus as used in the hyposensitization injections, and changes in nasal airways resistance measured by passive anterior rhinomanometry. VAS was recorded and NPT was performed on entry to the study and after the fifth, ninth and final monthly injection. Conjuvac injections were well tolerated. Large local reactions (greater than 5 cm) occurred within 30 min in only 1% of patients but later in 23%. No systemic reactions or anaphylaxis occurred within 30 min of injections, but urticaria or worsening of asthma and rhinitis was reported later in 3% of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:A double-blind study of hyposensitization with an alginate conjugated extract of D. pteronyssinus (Conjuvac) in patients with perennial rhinitis. 1. Clinical aspects. 265 91

Allergic diseases affect at least 15% of the population and are the cause of much ill-health. 'Clinical immunology and allergy', the term used by the Department of Health in England and Wales for this area of specialization, is recognized as a separate specialty of medicine under the National Health Service. Many organ-based hospital consultants (e.g. chest physicians) have allergy as a special interest or subspecialty. Allergists deal largely with 'itch, sneeze, cough and wheeze' and so are experts in: summer hay fever (seasonal, allergic, conjunctivorhinitis); perennial rhinitis (symptoms of a 'permanent cold'); allergic asthma (including occupational asthma); allergy to stinging insects (especially wasps and bees); allergy to drugs; allergy-related skin disorders, i.e. urticaria, angioedema, atopic eczema and contact dermatitis; food allergy and food intolerance; anaphylaxis (acute generalized allergic reaction); evaluating the role of allergy in non-specific/polysymptomatic illness. Children with allergic disease should be under the overall care of a paediatrician since the progression of allergies in children differs from that in adults. Good allergy practice involves teamwork by doctors, nurses and dietitians. The investigation of allergy patients includes skin tests and challenge procedures (e.g. food allergy tests) as well as various specialized laboratory investigations. Good clinical practice by providers and the effective use of allergy services by purchasers should improve prognosis and cut costs of treatment in allergic disease.
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PMID:Good allergy practice--standards of care for providers and purchasers of allergy services within the National Health Service. Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Pathologists. 852 Nov 76

The diagnostic value for allergies of the low affinity IgE receptor and its soluble circulating fragment (sCD23) remains unclear. In particular, little is know about seasonal influences on serum sCD23 levels in subjects with pollen allergy. In the present study, to gain insight into pathophysiological role of sCD23, we have analyzed, in blood from patients allergic to Parietaria sCD23, IgE, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) serum levels. IgE were assessed as atopy markers and ECP as an inflammation marker. Patients were studied during and out of pollen season, and results were compared to those obtained in nonallergic subjects. The study population included 42 nonsmoking outpatients, living in Palermo (Sicily, Italy) or in other west Sicilian towns, with a clinical diagnosis of seasonal asthma or rhinitis and monopositive skin test to Parietaria pollen. The group of asthmatic subjects consisted of 25 patients who had one or more of the usual asthma symptoms (wheezing, dyspnea, and cough) only during the pollen season. The group of rhinitis patients consisted of 17 patients, who, during pollen season, had the nasal symptoms (nasal blockage, sneezing, nasal itching, and rhinorrhoea) but no signs of asthma. As a control group, we studied 10 nonatopic subjects from laboratory staff. They had no history of seasonal or perennial rhinitis, asthma, or urticaria and had negative skin tests to a panel of allergens. Soluble CD23, IgE, and ECP were assessed in blood during and out of pollen season. Total serum IgE levels were clearly higher in atopic patients, as classically established. Concerning sCD23 serum levels, a similar pattern of results was obtained. Accordingly, significant correlations were shown between the levels of sCD23 and IgE in all groups of patients. A completely different pattern was observed by analyzing serum ECP levels because ECP levels were significantly increased only in asthmatic patients during pollen season. Accordingly, no significant correlations were observed between the levels of sCD23 and those of ECP. Identifying immune factors associated with the development of atopy can enhance our understanding of the in vivo mechanisms involved and may have utility in paradigms designed to prevent diseases. As demonstrated by the close correlation with total serum IgE values and the lack of correlation with serum ECP values, serum levels of sCD23 appear to be an additional marker for the diagnosis of atopy but not for the follow-up of allergic diseases.
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PMID:Serum levels of soluble CD23 in patients with asthma or rhinitis monosensitive to Parietaria. Its relation to total serum IgE levels and eosinophil cationic protein during and out of the pollen season. 1020 90

Ebastine and its active metabolite carebastine show potent antagonism of histamine H1-mediated phenomena in a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo non-clinical experimental models. By contrast, activity is not seen against histamine H2- or H3-mediated, nor acetylcholine- or serotonin-mediated phenomena, and both compounds are virtually without effect in models measuring pharmacological effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Explanation of these observations is found in their high selectivity for the histamine H1 receptor and in their low in vivo potency in displacing [3H]-mepyramine from central histamine H1 receptors, indicating that they do not readily pass the blood-brain barrier. These findings have been mirrored in clinical experimental models where oral doses of ebastine (1-30 mg) showed clear dose-related inhibition of intradermal histamine-induced weal and flare responses, whereas doses of 90 mg were without anticholinergic effects on salivary flow, cardiovascular reflexes or pilocarpine-induced miosis. Furthermore, in an extensive series of controlled studies in specific clinical models for measuring objective effects on the CNS, ebastine in single doses of 10-90 mg and repeated doses of 10-30 mg once daily, had no clinically relevant effects on cognitive performance and visual co-ordination tests, nor on simulated car-tracking tests and real car-driving tests. Nor was their any interaction with ethanol or diazepam. On subjective test parameters (questionnaires and visual analogue scales) there were only a few isolated and random incidences of minor increases in some indices of sedation at the highest doses. Not surprisingly, therefore, the clear therapeutic benefit seen during the extensive and international use of ebastine (5-20 mg once daily) in the treatment of seasonal and perennial rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria, has not been accompanied by signs of drug-induced anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, disturbances of visual accommodation) or sedation, making it an effective and well-tolerated first-line treatment alternative to other second-generation antihistamines.
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PMID:The non-cardiac systemic side-effects of antihistamines: ebastine. 1044 30

The value of CD30 and the soluble circulating fragment of CD30 (sCD30) for atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unclear. In particular, little is known about the effects of age, duration of disease and Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index (SCORAD) on the levels of serum sCD30 in patients affected by AD. In the present study, we have analysed serum sCD30 levels of adult patients affected by AD. The study's population includes 18 non-smoking outpatients, with a diagnosis of AD. As a control group we studied 18 non-atopic subjects from laboratory staff, matched for sex and age. These subjects had no history of AD, urticaria or seasonal or perennial rhinitis or asthma, and had negative skin prick test to a panel of allergens. The sCD30 serum levels were clearly higher in patients affected by AD (14.2+/-9.0 IU/ml) than in healthy subjects (1.2+/-0.8 IU/ml) (p<0.001). No differences were observed between males and females affected by atopic dermatitis, regarding age, duration of disease and SCORAD. Significant correlations were found between serum levels of sCD30 levels and age (r=-0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) for r (Fisher's z transformed)=-0.81 to -0.12; p=0.01), duration of the disease (months) (r=-0.64; 95% CI for r (Fisher's z transformed)=-0.85 to -0.24; p=0.004) and SCORAD (r=-0.74; 95% CI for r (Fisher's z transformed)=-0.89 to -0.42; p=0.004). As demonstrated by the close correlation with age, duration of disease and SCORAD, serum levels of sCD30 appear to be an additional marker for the follow-up of AD.
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PMID:Serum levels of soluble CD30 in adult patients affected by atopic dermatitis and its relation to age, duration of disease and Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index. 1277 63