BACKGROUND:This study investigated the effect of adjuvant sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dose in patients with pollinosis-associated asthma.METHODS:We retrospectively evaluated patients with cedar pollinosis-associated asthma who initiated pharmacotherapy with or without adjuvant SLIT therapy from December 2014 to December 2016 and who continued treatment for 3 years. Changes in ICS dose (fluticasone propionate or its equivalent), antihistamine use, leukotriene antagonist use and intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) use over the 3-year period were compared.RESULTS:The study included 36 and 35 patients in the add-on SLIT and standard treatment groups, respectively. At 3 years, the add-on SLIT group showed a significant decline in ICS dose (p = 0.024). Although leukotriene antagonist use and INCS use did not differ between the two groups, the percentage of patients using antihistamines at 3 years was significantly lower in the add-on SLIT group than in the standard treatment group (p = 0.009); one in three patients on adjuvant SLIT therapy was able to discontinue ICS treatment. Patients who discontinued ICS treatment were younger (44.6±13.3 years vs. 55.0±14.1 years, p = 0.042), had a higher FEV1% predicted (109.9±14.4 vs. 94.8±18.6, p = 0.02), and were on a lower treatment step (2.1±0.7 vs. 3.0±0.8, p = 0.002) than those who did not.CONCLUSION:The addition of SLIT to standard pharmacotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in ICS dose at 3 years.
BACKGROUNDA high prevalence of allergic diseases was found in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). However, the relative prevalence is unknown compared with other diseases.OBJECTIVESWe sought to compare the prevalence of allergic diseases in the control group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).METHODSWe retrospectively examined consecutive patients diagnosed with AOSD or RA in our hospital from 2010 to 2020. The patients with AOSD met the preliminary criteria for classification of AOSD. The patients with RA met the EULAR/ACR 2010 criteria. We included patients with RA without other rheumatic diseases. The analysis was performed on six types of allergic reactions: food allergy, drug allergy, allergic contact dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and/or allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma.RESULTSTwenty-four patients with AOSD and 409 patients with RA were enrolled. The median ages (AOSD, RA) were 46.6, 68.2 years old. Females were 83.3%, 78.0%. Fifty% of AOSD patients and 34.5% of RA patients presented at least one type of allergic diseases (p = 0.12). These included food allergy (4.2%, 6.4%: p = 1.0), drug allergy (37.5%, 16.6%: p = 0.02), allergic rhinitis/allergic conjunctivitis (25.0%, 8.6%: p = 0.02), contact dermatitis (4.2%, 4.4%: p = 1.0), and asthma (4.2%, 5.9%: p = 1.0).CONCLUSIONPatients with AOSD had a higher prevalence of drug allergy, and allergic rhinitis/allergic conjunctivitis than patients with RA.
BACKGROUND:There are few prospective observational studies on the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. We aimed to prospectively investigate the dynamics of change in the prevalence of AD from early childhood to adolescence.METHODS:We conducted a survey with a modified questionnaire to diagnose AD based on The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire with 1230 13-year-old children who were born in the Minami ward, Yokohama City between May 2004 and June 2005 and had undergone physical examinations by dermatologists at 3 years of age. Among the 422 children who answered the questionnaire, 210 had undergone periodic physical examinations by dermatologists from 4 months to 3 years of age (Cohort 1), whereas 212 had undergone physical examinations only at 3 years of age (Cohort 2).RESULTS:The prevalence of AD was 16.9% in 422 children at 13 years of age, with 22.9%, 16.6%, 20.0% and 18.3% prevalence at 4 months, 18 months, 3 years and 13 years of age, respectively, in children who were followed up long-term. The frequency of AD occurrence per year decreased after the age of 3 years; a history of AD at this age was significantly related to AD at 13 years of age (Fisher's exact test, p<0.001).CONCLUSION:In conclusion, it was suggested that AD in 3-year-old children is one of the risk factors for the development of AD in 13-year-old children.
A 12-year-old boy visited our hospital with complaints of chronic cough and dyspnea. Chest X-ray and CT revealed diffuse granular shadow in the bilateral lung fields and "Tree-in-bud appearance" in the peripheral airways, respectively. Sinusitis was present, and restrictive disorder was predominantly found in pulmonary function. The patient was diagnosed with DPB, and long-term therapy was started with low-dose clarithromycin (CAM), The patient showed a dramatic response to CAM, with improvements of both the clinical symptoms and pulmonary function within 1-2 months. According to the relevant literature, in adult patients with this disease, pulmonary dysfunction starts from an obstructive pattern; however, this is not the case in pediatric patients. It was therefore suggested that the mechanisms underlying the development of pulmonary dysfunction in cases of childhood onset differs from those with an adult onset.
The case subject was a 19-year-old exchange student from Thailand who had undergone tuberculosis (TB) treatment twice. Upon observing a shadow in the right upper lung, the patient was referred for examination; however, acid-fast bacteria test results were negative. Furthermore, high levels of total IgE and anti-aspergillus IgE and IgG antibodies were found. Bronchoscopy revealed inflammation with stenosis in the right superior lobar bronchus, and there was an outflow of yellow viscous sputum upon suctioning. After applying a localized steroid spray, the patient expectorated a large amount of sputum containing Aspergillus fumigatus. Upon administration of steroids and itraconazole, the conglomerate mass shadow's inner portion disappeared, and dilated bronchi appeared. Even though the diagnostic criteria for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) of Rosenberg and Patterson were not strictly satisfied, ABPA was diagnosed in conjunction with the course of treatment. It was determined that prior tubercle bacilli test results were negative, and thus the patient must have had ABPA from the onset. The symptoms eased, and the patient returned to Thailand. Although pulmonary tuberculosis and ABPA are different illnesses, they share similarities in symptoms and clinical findings. Therefore, past medical history should not be believed blindly, and it is imperative to diagnosis the condition accurately by performing appropriate tests. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to view the computed tomography images of the chest 18 years after the initial examination. In the entire lung region, findings of significant bronchiectasis were presented.
