Exhaled nitric oxide is a potential marker of lower airway inflammation. Allergic rhinitis is associated with asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. To determine whether or not nasal and exhaled NO concentrations are increased in allergic rhinitis and to assess the relation between hyperresponsiveness and exhaled NO, 46 rhinitic and 12 control subjects, all nonasthmatic nonsmokers without up...

BACKGROUND Several acaricides have become available for reducing house dust mite allergen levels. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess whether the use of benzyl benzoate (Acarosan) provides additional benefit to the usual mite control measures including encasement of mattress and pillows with vinyl covers. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was carried out in 26 homes (14 co...

The present study investigated whether single-dose oral leukotriene receptor antagonists as add-on therapy to short-acting beta-agonists, immediately after allergen challenge, block the late-phase airway response. In total, 35 mild asthmatics (mean age 24 yrs, 19 males) sensitised for house dust mites underwent two courses of bronchial allergen challenge. After the early allergic response (EAR)...

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-...

The relationship between the release of platelet activating factor (PAF), leukotriene C(4)/D(4)/E(E) (LTC(4)/D(4)/E(4)) and prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) from nasal mucosa in vivo was examined in 24 rhinitis patients allergic to the house dust mite (HDM). During a double blind placebo controlled cross-over study 200 mug fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FPANS) was administered twice dai...

Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controled, parallelgroup, phase II study was conducted. Thirty-six subjects with LAR to DP were randomized to receive Pangraminâ PLUS, ALK, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (AIT-DP) or placebo for 24 months. The primary endpoint was total symptoms (TSS) and total medication scores (TMS). Secondary endpoints included: total combined symptom+medication sc...

List of original publications This thesis is based on the following original articles, which are referred to by the Roman numerals I–IV in the text. in skin and nasal sensitivity to allergens and the course of rhinitis; a long-term follow-up study. Nasal histamine reactivity; relationships to skin-test responses, allergen provocation and symptom severity in patients with long-continuing allergi...

OBJECTIVE To assess the safety of the tracheal auscultation method for measuring bronchial hyperresponsiveness in healthy unsedated children aged less than 4 years and to establish a range of normal bronchial hyperresponsiveness values. POPULATION AND METHODS The study population consisted of healthy children aged between 6 months and 4 years. A methacholine bronchial provocation test was adm...

Methods Thirty-six subjects with LAR to DP were selected to participate in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallelgroup, phase II clinical trial of subcutaneous AIT in LAR. The patients were randomized to receive AIT-DP with Pangramin PLUS, ALK, DP, or placebo for a period of 24 months. The primary endpoint was total symptoms (TSS) and total medication scores (TMS). Secondary endpoints wer...