Nasal cytology is a very useful diagnostic tool in nasal disorders, being able to detect both the cellular modifications of the nasal epithelium caused by either allergen exposure or irritative stimuli (that may be physical or chemical, acute or chronic), or inflammation. Over these past few years, nasal cytology has allowed to identify new disorders, such as the non-allergic rhinitis with eosi...

Nasal cytology is a very useful diagnostic tool in nasal disorders, being able to detect both the cellular modifications of the nasal epithelium caused by either allergen exposure or irritative stimuli (that may be physical or chemical, acute or chronic), or inflammation. Over these past few years, nasal cytology has allowed to identify new disorders, such as the non-allergic rhinitis with eosi...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of a preseasonal sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in a group of allergic patients with seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis with or without mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma. The immunotherapy was administered through the oral mucosa with a monomeric carbamylated allergoid (allergoid SLIT) for grass pollens. A sec...

BACKGROUND Cluster immunotherapy represents an interesting alternative to conventional up-dosing schedules because it allows achieving the maintenance dose within a shorter time interval. In this study, the efficacy and safety of cluster immunotherapy with a high polymerized allergen extract of a grass/rye pollen mixture have been evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, mul...

BACKGROUND Allergen induced early phase airway response and airway plasma exudation are predominantly mediated by inflammatory mast cell mediators including histamine, cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether repeated allergen exposure affects early phase airway response to allergen challenge. METHODS A trimellitic anhydri...

BACKGROUND During allergen-specific sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), the relevance of changes in specific IgE and IgG antibody titres to treatment efficacy remains to be evaluated at an individual patient level. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether antibody responses can be used as biomarkers for SLIT efficacy. METHODS Comprehensive quantitative, qualitative and functional analyses of allergen-...

Background: In specific immunotherapy (SIT), modified extracts have been used to allow safe administration of higher allergen doses. Schedules reaching maintenance doses in approximately 1 month, which may have greater efficacy, have even been proposed. Aims: To assess the safety and efficacy of SIT with modified (depigmented and polymerized) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract in the treatm...

Allergic asthmatic individuals are often exposed to low-doses of allergen in their everyday life. Extended exposure to allergen has lead to down-regulation of the allergic process in cell systems and in animal models. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether any such inhibitory mechanism of allergic responses can be seen in man in vivo. Patients with mild asthma were repeatedly and double-...

BACKGROUND In specific immunotherapy (SIT), modified extracts have been used to allow safe administration of higher allergen doses. Schedules reaching maintenance doses in approximately 1 month, which may have greater efficacy, have even been proposed. AIMS To assess the safety and efficacy of SIT with modified (depigmented and polymerized) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract in the treatm...

Background: In specific immunotherapy (SIT), modified extracts have been used to allow safe administration of higher allergen doses. Schedules reaching maintenance doses in approximately 1 month, which may have greater efficacy, have even been proposed. Aims: To assess the safety and efficacy of SIT with modified (depigmented and polymerized) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract in the treatm...