Symptoms In Allergic Patients Research Articles

Immunoglobulin E levels and anticollagen antibodies in patients with postburn hypertrophic scars.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and eosinophil counts were measured in 18 former patients with burn injuries attending an outpatient clinic for hypertrophic scarring. In 15 of these 18 former patients with burns, IgG anticollagen antibodies were also measured. Earlier reports in the literature have suggested that a local immune reaction against collagen might play a role in enhancing inflammation, thereby increasing scar formation. In addition, we have previously reported an increase in allergic symptoms in patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars. Antibodies to the following collagen types were measured: human type I, human type III, bovine type I, and bovine type III. IgG anticollagen antibody levels were correlated with percentage third-degree burn, number of weeks after burn injury, and the patient's age. An increase in percentage third-degree burn and in number of weeks after burn injury was statistically significantly associated with an increase in serum anticollagen antibody level. Six of the 18 patients had higher than normal IgE levels (p value = 0.0002).

Minor pollinosis fromCryptomeria japonica in Varese, northern Italy. Aerobiological monitoring and main clinical features

In the last 2 years, we have conducted an aerobiological monitoring program ofCryptomeria japonica, a plant belonging to the family of Taxodiaceae that sometimes causes pollinosis in the period from February to April. Throughout 1994, we checked the incidence of its sensitization and the clinical effects in 85 subjects with correlated seasonal symptoms, who gave a positive skin prick test (SPT) for Betulaceae and/or Corylaceae. Twenty-five patients (29.4%; 19 M; 6 F; mean age, 38.8 years) all with oculorhinitis, were SPT positive to an allergenic extract ofCryptomeria. RAST confirmed this positivity in 44% of the cases. No patients showed monosensitization forCryptomeria to either SPT or RAST. Two subjects gave a positive result on specific nasal provocation. RAST inhibition showed no cross-reaction betweenCryptomeria and birch pollen. During the pollen season each patient made a list, scoring symptoms and specifying any drugs used, so we could correlate these elements with aerobiological observations. The pollen concentration probably exceeded the allergizing threshold forCryptomeria on 8 days during 3 months of recording. The intensity and duration of symptoms seemed to be mainly influenced by sensitization to Betulaceae and Corylaceae. It is thus possible that a combination of ‘minor’ pollinosis may produce seasonal symptoms in allergic patients.

Utilization of aerobiological, phenological and phytogeographical data in allergology

The practical aim of our research work was to point out the advantages of a deeper knowledge of botanical data in allergology. Aerobiological monitoring is not enough for an analysis of the formation and development of pollen rain. The following emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary studies in the approach to the pollinosis problem: — A phytogeographical study in the area investigated has made it possible a) to ascertain the correlation between aerobiological and phytogeographical data and to understand the reasons of some of the discordances, b) to select an allergen panel for testing including pollens of species peculiar to that particular region; a more accurate appreciation of the distribution of different allergenic pollen source areas in the light of local meteorological conditions, will be an excellent guideline for the interpretation and prediction of symptoms in allergic patients. — A phenological checking of the flowering period on location for allergenic species in the area next to the sampling station has made it possible to assess the flowering interval and peak for each species and to attribute the responsibility for the pollen and symptom peaks to a particular species within the same family at a specific moment. The above data are the basis and sometimes the only support available for the interpretation of aerobiological data.

A double-blind study of the comparative incidence of malignancy and allergy

Four hundred and three preoperative patients were questioned as to past or present allergic symptoms. One hundred and four patients in this group were subsequently shown to have malignancy. There was no significant difference in the incidence of seasonal or possible allergic symptoms in those patients with cancer as compared with those with no cancer. In the allergic group, no significant difference was found in the intensity of allergic symptoms in cancer patients and the intensity of allergic symptoms in noncancer patients. The incidence of allergic symptoms was similar in patients with localized cancer when compared to those with invasive malignancy. The incidence of reported allergy was less in the older age patients, but this did not affect the present study as there was a similar incidence of allergy in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients at each age level.