Ignacio J. Ansotegui

Sub-Lingual Immunotherapy: World Allergy Organization Position Paper 2009

Chair: G. Walter Canonica Co-Chairs Jean Bousquet, Thomas Casale, Richard F. Lockey, Carlos E. Baena-Cagnani, Ruby Pawankar, Paul C. Potter Authors Philippe J. Bousquet, Linda S. Cox, Stephen R. Durham, Harold S. Nelson, Giovanni Passalacqua, Dermot P. Ryan, Jan L. Brozek, Enrico Compalati, Ronald Dahl, Luis Delgado, Roy Gerth van Wijk, Richard G. Gower, Dennis K. Ledford, Nelson Rosario Filho, Erkka J. Valovirta, Osman M. Yusuf, Torsten Zuberbier Co-Authors Wahiduzzaman Akhanda, Raul Castro Almarales, Ignacio Ansotegui, Floriano Bonifazi, Jan Ceuppens, Tomás Chivato, Darina Dimova, Diana Dumitrascu, Luigi Fontana, Constance H. Katelaris, Ranbir Kaulsay, Piotr Kuna, Désirée Larenas-Linnemann, Manolis Manoussakis, Kristof Nekam, Carlos Nunes, Robyn O’Hehir, José M. Olaguibel, Nerin Bahceciler Onder, Jung Won Park, Alfred Priftanji, Robert Puy, Luis Sarmiento, Glenis Scadding, Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier, Ester Seberova, Revaz Sepiashvili, Dírceu Solé, Alkis Togias, Carlo Tomino, Elina Toskala, Hugo Van Beever, Stefan Vieths

A WAO - ARIA - GA²LEN consensus document on molecular-based allergy diagnostics

Molecular-based allergy (MA) diagnostics is an approach used to map the allergen sensitization of a patient at a molecular level, using purified natural or recombinant allergenic molecules (allergen components) instead of allergen extracts. Since its introduction, MA diagnostics has increasingly entered routine care, with currently more than 130 allergenic molecules commercially available for in vitro specific IgE (sIgE) testing.MA diagnostics allows for an increased accuracy in allergy diagnosis and prognosis and plays an important role in three key aspects of allergy diagnosis: (1) resolving genuine versus cross-reactive sensitization in poly-sensitized patients, thereby improving the understanding of triggering allergens; (2) assessing, in selected cases, the risk of severe, systemic versus mild, local reactions in food allergy, thereby reducing unnecessary anxiety for the patient and the need for food challenge testing; and (3) identifying patients and triggering allergens for specific immunotherapy (SIT).Singleplex and multiplex measurement platforms are available for MA diagnostics. The Immuno-Solid phase Allergen Chip (ISAC) is the most comprehensive platform currently available, which involves a biochip technology to measure sIgE antibodies against more than one hundred allergenic molecules in a single assay. As the field of MA diagnostics advances, future work needs to focus on large-scale, population-based studies involving practical applications, elucidation and expansion of additional allergenic molecules, and support for appropriate test interpretation. With the rapidly expanding evidence-base for MA diagnosis, there is a need for allergists to keep abreast of the latest information. The aim of this consensus document is to provide a practical guide for the indications, determination, and interpretation of MA diagnostics for clinicians trained in allergology.

Sub-lingual immunotherapy: World allergy organization position paper 2009

Co-Authors: Wahiduzzaman Akhanda, Raul Castro Almarales, Ignacio Ansotegui, Floriano Bonifazi, Jan Ceuppens, Tomás Chivato, Darina Dimova, Diana Dumitrascu, Luigi Fontana, Constance HKatelaris, Ranbir Kaulsay, Piotr Kuna, Dèsirée Larenas-Linnemann, Manolis Manoussakis, Kristof Nekam, Carlos Nunes, Robyn O’Hehir, José M Olaguibel, Nerin Bahceciler Onder, JungWon Park, Alfred Priftanji, Robert Puy, Luis Sarmiento, Glenis Scadding, Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier, Ester Seberova, Revaz Sepiashvili, Dirceu Solé, Alkis Togias, Carlo Tomino, Elina Toskala, Hugo Van Beever, Stefan Vieths*

Anisakis simplex, a relevant etiologic factor in acute urticaria

Del Pozo MD, Audícana M, Diez JM, Muñoz D, Ansotegui IJ, Fernández E, García M, Etxenagusia M, Moneo I, Fernández de Corres L. Anisakis simplex, a relevant etiologic factor in acute urticaria.

Meteorological conditions, climate change, new emerging factors, and asthma and related allergic disorders. A statement of the World Allergy Organization

The prevalence of allergic airway diseases such as asthma and rhinitis has increased dramatically to epidemic proportions worldwide. Besides air pollution from industry derived emissions and motor vehicles, the rising trend can only be explained by gross changes in the environments where we live. The world economy has been transformed over the last 25 years with developing countries being at the core of these changes. Around the planet, in both developed and developing countries, environments are undergoing profound changes. Many of these changes are considered to have negative effects on respiratory health and to enhance the frequency and severity of respiratory diseases such as asthma in the general population.Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, and especially carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere have already warmed the planet substantially, causing more severe and prolonged heat waves, variability in temperature, increased air pollution, forest fires, droughts, and floods – all of which can put the respiratory health of the public at risk. These changes in climate and air quality have a measurable impact not only on the morbidity but also the mortality of patients with asthma and other respiratory diseases. The massive increase in emissions of air pollutants due to economic and industrial growth in the last century has made air quality an environmental problem of the first order in a large number of regions of the world. A body of evidence suggests that major changes to our world are occurring and involve the atmosphere and its associated climate. These changes, including global warming induced by human activity, have an impact on the biosphere, biodiversity, and the human environment. Mitigating this huge health impact and reversing the effects of these changes are major challenges.This statement of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) raises the importance of this health hazard and highlights the facts on climate-related health impacts, including: deaths and acute morbidity due to heat waves and extreme meteorological events; increased frequency of acute cardio-respiratory events due to higher concentrations of ground level ozone; changes in the frequency of respiratory diseases due to trans-boundary particle pollution; altered spatial and temporal distribution of allergens (pollens, molds, and mites); and some infectious disease vectors. According to this report, these impacts will not only affect those with current asthma but also increase the incidence and prevalence of allergic respiratory conditions and of asthma. The effects of climate change on respiratory allergy are still not well defined, and more studies addressing this topic are needed. Global warming is expected to affect the start, duration, and intensity of the pollen season on the one hand, and the rate of asthma exacerbations due to air pollution, respiratory infections, and/or cold air inhalation, and other conditions on the other hand.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Urticaria and Angioedema: A Worldwide Perspective

Urticaria and angioedema are common clinical conditions representing a major concern for physicians and patients alike. The World Allergy Organization (WAO), recognizing the importance of these diseases, has contributed to previous guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urticaria. The Scientific and Clinical Issues Council of WAO proposed the development of this global Position Paper to further enhance the clinical management of these disorders through the participation of renowned experts from all WAO regions of the world. Sections on definition and classification, prevalence, etiology and pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are based on the best scientific evidence presently available. Additional sections devoted to urticaria and angioedema in children and pregnant women, quality of life and patient-reported outcomes, and physical urticarias have been incorporated into this document. It is expected that this article will supplement recent international guidelines with the contribution of an expert panel designated by the WAO, increasing awareness of the importance of urticaria and angioedema in medical practice and will become a useful source of information for optimum patient management worldwide.

Humoral immunity in aging.

The interactions between B and T lymphocytes, leading to the development of humoral responses, are reviewed with references to the changes occurring in aged people. Aging is perceived as a process of impairment of immune functions; it is known that T cells from aged subjects have a reduced ability to produce IL- 2. However, other functions seem to be upregulated in elderly subjects; indeed, IL- 1, IL- 3, IL- 4, IL- 6 and TNFα production are increased both in aged mice and humans. These cytokines are known to control B cell differentiation, through isotype switch and Ig production. A significant increase in IgG subclasses and IgA is observed in sera of aged subjects. This contrasts with the significant decrease in circulating B lymphocytes. The impairment of primary responses to immunization, and other aspects of humoral immunity, including mucosal responses, autoantibody production and correlations with phenotypic markers of T and B cell subsets, are discussed. (Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 6: 143–150, 1994)

Climate change, air pollution and extreme events leading to increasing prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases

The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has increased dramatically during the past few decades not only in industrialized countries. Urban air pollution from motor vehicles has been indicated as one of the major risk factors responsible for this increase.Although genetic factors are important in the development of asthma and allergic diseases, the rising trend can be explained only in changes occurred in the environment. Despite some differences in the air pollution profile and decreasing trends of some key air pollutants, air quality is an important concern for public health in the cities throughout the world.Due to climate change, air pollution patterns are changing in several urbanized areas of the world, with a significant effect on respiratory health.The observational evidence indicates that recent regional changes in climate, particularly temperature increases, have already affected a diverse set of physical and biological systems in many parts of the world. Associations between thunderstorms and asthma morbidity in pollinosis subjects have been also identified in multiple locations around the world.Allergens patterns are also changing in response to climate change and air pollution can modify the allergenic potential of pollens especially in presence of specific weather conditions.The underlying mechanisms of all these interactions are not well known yet. The consequences on health vary from decreases in lung function to allergic diseases, new onset of diseases, and exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases.Factor clouding the issue is that laboratory evaluations do not reflect what happens during natural exposition, when atmospheric pollution mixtures in polluted cities are inhaled. In addition, it is important to recall that an individual’s response to pollution exposure depends on the source and components of air pollution, as well as meteorological conditions. Indeed, some air pollution-related incidents with asthma aggravation do not depend only on the increased production of air pollution, but rather on atmospheric factors that favour the accumulation of air pollutants at ground level.Considering these aspects governments worldwide and international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the European Union are facing a growing problem of the respiratory effects induced by gaseous and particulate pollutants arising from motor vehicle emissions.

The use of IgE immunoblotting as a diagnostic tool in Anisakis simplex allergy.

BACKGROUND The fish parasite Anisakis simplex is the etiologic agent of anisakiasis and induces IgE-mediated reactions. Skin prick tests (SPTs) and the measurement of specific IgE to A. simplex were, in our experience, not valid tools with which to discriminate between allergic and nonallergic patients because many control subjects also had positive results. OBJECTIVE The study was carried out to assess the usefulness of IgE immunoblotting in the diagnosis of allergy to A. simplex. METHODS We have studied 61 patients with acute symptoms of urticaria, angioedema, or anaphylaxis and positive specific IgE to A. simplex. According to the anamnesis, time interval between ingestion of fish and clinical onset of symptoms, and exclusion of other causes of allergy, three different groups of patients were established: group A (allergic), group NA (non-allergic), and group D (doubtful). Fifty-one healthy donors were included as control subjects (group C). IgE immunoblotting with A. simplex whole-body extract was performed in all patients and control subjects. RESULTS Four patterns of immunoblotting were observed: type 1, with a group of several bands of medium molecular weight and others of low molecular weight; type 2, two or more bands of medium molecular weight; type 3, only one band of medium molecular weight; type 4, without any band. There was a significant predominance of blotting type 1 in group A and type 4 in group C. CONCLUSION These data suggest that IgE immunoblotting is the most useful approach to A. simplex allergy diagnosis.

Usefulness of currently available methods for the diagnosis of Anisakis simplex allergy

Background: Serodiagnosis of anisakiosis and Anisakis allergy is difficult since many Anisakis antigens show cross‐reactivity complications. In the present study, we assess the usefulness of the major immunologic methods currently available for the diagnosis of Anisakis allergy.