M. Worm

Impact of gender on asthma in childhood and adolescence: a GA2LEN review.

A number of studies have shown gender differences in the prevalence of wheeze and asthma. The aim of this review was to examine published results on gender differences in childhood and adolescent asthma incidence and prevalence, define current concepts and to identify new research needs.

Eczematous reactions to food in atopic eczema: position paper of the EAACI and GA2LEN.

Food allergy and atopic eczema (AE) may occur in the same patient. Besides typical immediate types of allergic reactions (i.e. noneczematous reactions) which are observed in patients suffering from AE, it is clear that foods, such as cow’s milk and hen’s eggs, can directly provoke flares of AE, particularly in sensitized infants. In general, inhaled allergens and pollen‐related foods are of greater importance in older children, adolescents and adults. Clinical studies have revealed that more than 50% of affected children with AE that can be exacerbated by certain foods will react with a worsening of skin eczema either alone or in addition to immediate symptoms. Adolescents and adults may also react to foods, but reactions to ‘classical’ food allergens, such as hen’s eggs and cow’s milk, are not as common as in childhood. Some patients with AE do react to pollen‐associated foods. Food‐induced eczema should not be neglected by the allergologist: On the one hand, food can be a relevant trigger factor of persistent moderate‐to‐severe AE; on the other hand, unnecessary diets which are not based on a proper diagnosis may lead to malnutrition and additional psychological stress on patients suffering from AE. Eczematous reactions to food can only be diagnosed by a thorough diagnostic procedure, taking into account the patient’s history, the degree of sensitization and the clinical relevance of the sensitization. The latter has often to be proven by oral food challenges. Upon oral food challenge it is most important to evaluate the status of the skin with an established score (e.g. SCORAD, EASI) after 24 h and later because otherwise worsening of eczema will be missed.

GA2LEN/EAACI pocket guide for allergen-specific immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and asthma

To cite this article: Zuberbier T, Bachert C, Bousquet PJ, Passalacqua G, Walter Canonica G, Merk H, Worm M, Wahn U, Bousquet J. GA2LEN/EAACI pocket guide for allergen‐specific immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and asthma. Allergy 2010; 65: 1525–1530.

Symptom profile and risk factors of anaphylaxis in Central Europe

Anaphylaxis is the most severe manifestation of an IgE‐dependent allergy. Standardized acquired clinical data from large cohorts of well‐defined cases are not available. The aim of this study was to analyse the symptom profile and risk factors of anaphylaxis in a large Central European cohort.

Insulin allergy: clinical manifestations and management strategies.

Insulin allergy in patients with diabetes mellitus on insulin treatment is a rare condition. It is suspected upon noticing immediate symptoms following insulin injections. The immediate vital implications for the patient call for prompt diagnosis and management of insulin allergy.

Targeting the vitamin D receptor inhibits the B cell-dependent allergic immune response

To cite this article: Hartmann B, Heine G, Babina M, Steinmeyer A, Zügel U, Radbruch A, Worm M. Targeting the vitamin D receptor inhibits the B cell‐dependent allergic immune response. Allergy 2011; 66: 540–548.

Low-dose cyclosporine A therapy increases the regulatory T cell population in patients with atopic dermatitis

Background:  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a T cell dependent chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disorder successfully treated with cyclosporine A (CsA). Clinical observations indicate that even low‐dose CsA therapy is successful in severely affected AD patients. We studied the impact of low‐dose CsA therapy on the ability of T helper cells to be activated, and examined whether regulatory T (Treg) cells are increased in these patients.

Anaphylaxis in an emergency setting – elicitors, therapy and incidence of severe allergic reactions

Anaphylaxis is a severe potentially life‐threatening hypersensitivity reaction with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 0.5–2.0%. The prevalence and incidence of anaphylactic reactions in Germany are unknown. We therefore assessed anaphylactic patients seen by emergency physicians in the Berlin area covering 4 million people.

Association of the toll-like receptor 2 A-16934T promoter polymorphism with severe atopic dermatitis.

Background:  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a multifactorial pathogenesis and increasing incidence in the Western world. A genetically determined defective function of pattern recognition receptors such as toll‐like receptors (TLRs) has been proposed as a candidate mechanism in the pathogenesis of AD.

Agreement of efficacy assessments for five-grass pollen sublingual tablet immunotherapy.

Background:  The optimal dose of five‐grass pollen sublingual tablet immunotherapy (SLIT) was established recently by the primary criteria Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score (RTSS) from the first treatment season. Secondary and exploratory criteria, such as RTSS at peak pollen season, exploratory combined symptom and rescue medication use score, quality of life and immunological markers are calculated and described in this analysis.