K. C. Bergmann

How to design and evaluate randomized controlled trials in immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis: an ARIA-GA(2) LEN statement

To cite this article: Bousquet J, Schünemann HJ, Bousquet PJ, Bachert C, Canonica GW, Casale TB, Demoly P, Durham S, Carlsen K‐H, Malling H‐J, Passalacqua G, Simons FER, Anto J, Baena‐Cagnani CE, Bergmann K‐C, Bieber T, Briggs AH, Brozek J, Calderon MA, Dahl R, Devillier P, Gerth van Wijk R, Howarth P, Larenas D, Papadopoulos NG, Schmid‐Grendelmeier P, Zuberbier T. How to design and evaluate randomized controlled trials in immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis: an ARIA‐GA2LEN statement. Allergy 2011; 66: 765–774.

The relation between paracetamol use and asthma: a GA2LEN European case-control study.

Studies from the UK and USA suggest that frequent use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) may increase the risk of asthma, but data across Europe are lacking. As part of a multicentric case–control study organised by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN), it was examined whether or not frequent paracetamol use is associated with adult asthma across Europe. The network compared 521 cases with a diagnosis of asthma and reporting of asthma symptoms within the last 12 months with 507 controls with no diagnosis of asthma and no asthmatic symptoms within the last 12 months across 12 European centres. All cases and controls were selected from the same population, defined by age (20–45 yrs) and place of residence. In a random effects meta-analysis, weekly use of paracetamol, compared with less frequent use, was strongly positively associated with asthma after controlling for confounders. There was no evidence for heterogeneity across centres. No association was seen between use of other analgesics and asthma. These data add to the increasing and consistent epidemiological evidence implicating frequent paracetamol use in asthma in diverse populations.

A case-control study of the relation between plasma selenium and asthma in European populations : a GAL2EN project

Background:  There is evidence that selenium levels are relatively low in Europe and may be falling. Low levels of selenium or low activity of some of the enzymes dependent on selenium have been associated with asthma.

Absence of IgE neosensitization in house dust mite allergic patients following sublingual immunotherapy

The impact of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on IgE neosensitization remains to be evaluated in large cohorts of patients.

Personalized pollen-related symptom-forecast information services for allergic rhinitis patients in Europe.

We report on the development of personalized pollen‐related information services that include sensitivity categorization, threshold identification, and symptom forecasting, addressing patients with allergic rhinitis in Europe.

Defining pollen exposure times for clinical trials of allergen immunotherapy for pollen‐induced rhinoconjunctivitis – an EAACI Position Paper

Clinical efficacy of pollen allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been broadly documented in randomized controlled trials. The underlying clinical endpoints are analysed in seasonal time periods predefined based on the background pollen concentration. However, any validated or generally accepted definition from academia or regulatory authorities for this relevant pollen exposure intensity or period of time (season) is currently not available. Therefore, this Task Force initiative of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) aimed to propose definitions based on expert consensus.

Allergen exposure chambers: harmonizing current concepts and projecting the needs for the future – an EAACI Position Paper

Allergen exposure chambers (AECs) are clinical facilities allowing for controlled exposure of subjects to allergens in an enclosed environment. AECs have contributed towards characterizing the pathophysiology of respiratory allergic diseases and the pharmacological properties of new therapies. In addition, they are complementary to and offer some advantages over traditional multicentre field trials for evaluation of novel therapeutics. To date, AEC studies conducted have been monocentric and have followed protocols unique to each centre. Because there are technical differences among AECs, it may be necessary to define parameters to standardize the AECs so that studies may be extrapolated for driving basic immunological research and for marketing authorization purposes by regulatory authorities.

Validation of the MASK‐rhinitis visual analogue scale on smartphone screens to assess allergic rhinitis control

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a validated tool to assess control in allergic rhinitis patients.

Computational validation of the recently proposed pollen season definition criteria

In a recently published paper, a Task Force of the Immunotherapy and Aerobiology and Pollution Interest Groups of the EAACI suggested specific criteria for the definition of pollen exposure times for three types of pollen events: (i) pollen season (PS) start and end, (ii) high-pollen season(s) (or peak pollen period(s) (PPP)) start and end, and (iii) high-pollen days. Species addressed included birch, grasses, cypress, olive and ragweed. Two important questions arise from the aforementioned definitions: (i) Do they lead to a narrow (thus well defined) time interval identifying start and end event dates (robustness of the criteria) and (ii) if slightly altered, will they result to a narrow (thus again well defined) fluctuation of start and end event dates (sensitivity of the criteria)? In an effort to provide with responses to aforementioned questions, we analyzed Poaceae pollen count data coming from Germany (up to 40 pollen monitoring stations, years 2012-2016). The analysis addressed all pollen events for the first question and focused on the PS and PPP start and end events as well as on high-pollen days for the second question.

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) score of allergic rhinitis using mobile technology correlates with quality of life: The MASK study

Mobile technology has been used to appraise allergic rhinitis control, but more data are needed. To better assess the importance of mobile technologies in rhinitis control, the ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) score ranging from 0 to 4 of the Allergy Diary was compared with EQ‐5D (EuroQuol) and WPAI‐AS (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment in allergy) in 1288 users in 18 countries. This study showed that quality‐of‐life data (EQ‐5D visual analogue scale and WPA‐IS Question 9) are similar in users without rhinitis and in those with mild rhinitis (scores 0‐2). Users with a score of 3 or 4 had a significant impairment in quality‐of‐life questionnaires.