SummaryFrom a total of 160 patients with allergic bronchial asthma or chronic asthmatic bronchitis, eighteen (11.3%) patients reported being regularly exposed to pigeons. In these eighteen patients, bronchial provocation tests with pigeon faeces were performed and the precipitating antibodies (IgG) in their serum against pigeon faeces and serum were estimated. Of the eighteen patients, seven (39%) demonstrated a ‘late bronchus‐obstructive response’ to pigeon faeces. Three patients developed only an ‘isolated late response’ and in the other four patients the late response occurred as a part of the ‘dual response’. In the seven patients with the positive late bronchial response, the precipitating antibodies in their serum to pigeon faeces were positive in five (71%) and to pigeon serum in two (28%) of them. The late skin responses to pigeon faeces were positive in five (71%) patients, the blood eosinophilia increased in six (86%) of them, a slight pyrexia occurred in two (28%) and general malaise symptoms appeared in six (86%) of them. None of these patients developed changes on the chest X‐ray during the late response. The remaining eleven patients did not develop any bronchial response to pigeon faeces challenge, although in six (55%) of them the late skin responses were positive, and two (18%) had precipitating antibodies in the serum to pigeon faeces and one (9%) to pigeon serum. It is concluded that positive precipitating antibodies in the serum to pigeon faeces and serum are important parameters for detection of pigeon breeder's disease in exposed individuals, however confirmation of this diagnosis should be provided by the bronchial provocation tests.
A case is reported of secondary dissemination of allergic contact dermatitis in a patient sensitive to balsam of Peru. The primary eruption was located in the face. The secondary lesions appeared as purpuric vasculitis-like eruptions on both legs. Such an unusual manifestation of contact dermatitis may cause considerable delay in establishing the correct diagnosis.
ABSTI^GT: The efficacy and safety of topically applied 2% minoxidil solution were compared with those of an excipient placebo in the treatment of early male pattern alopecia in this 24-week, double-blind, randomized study conducted in The Netherlands. One hundred forty-four male patients were evaluable at week 24. They applied 7 ml of either the placebo or 2% minoxidil solution twice daily throughout the study. The 2% minoxidil solution was about three times more effective than the placebo solution in all primary efficacy parameters evaluated, (ie, hair count and investigator and patient subjective evaluation). Minoxidil did not appear to have an effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse rate, or body Weight. One placebo patient withdrew from the study when he developed a skin rash at week 8. This study supports previous findings on the safe and effective use of minoxidil solution in the treatment of early male pattern alopecia.
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