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Chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria (CIU) is sometimes resistant to the conventional and high doses of antihistamines (AHs). This study compares the clinical and laboratory characteristics of AH responsive and AH-resistant CIU subjects. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from 385 CIU patients. Urticaria activity score (UAS), concomitant angioedema, dermatographism, positive autologous serum skin (ASST), and laboratory data were collected. The control group consisted of 44 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals. Two hundred forty-five CIU patients controlled with AH medications were included in the CIU group. Forty-six patients failed to show clinical improvement during 8 weeks of treatment with fourfold AH doses and were included in the resistant CIU (R-CIU) group. The R-CIU group was characterized with a higher incidence (58.7%) of angioedema than the CIU group (28.5%; p < 0.001), more cases concomitant physical urticaria (23.9% in R-CIU versus 12.2% in CIU; p = 0.014), more positive ASST (73.9% in R-CIU versus 45.4% in CIU; p < 0.001), and higher baseline UAS (5.28 ± 0.81 in R-CIU versus 3.32 ± 1.25 in CIU; <0.001). R-CIU was characterized with more severe basopenia (0.04 ± 0.07 cell/mm(3) versus 0.16 ± 0.13 cell/mm(3); p < 0.001), higher mean platelet volume (10.87 ± 2.21 femtoliter (fl) versus 8.65 ± 1.74 fl; p < 0.001), higher levels of C-reactive protein (8.62 ± 3.91 mg/L versus 2.49 ± 1.34 mg/L; <0.001), and higher levels of serum C3 (1.66 ± 0.36 g/L versus 1.19 ± 0.35 g/L; p < 0.001. R-CIU is a clinically more severe disease with laboratory features of low-grade inflammation and platelet activation.

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Background: Most children with egg allergy (EA) can tolerate extensively heated and baked egg (EHBE). Consumption of EHBE may promote faster resolution of EA; however, no consensus exists as to the required amounts and treatment protocols.Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a structured graduated exposure protocol (SGEP) with EHBE in promoting tolerance to eggs in EA children under 2 years of age. Methods:In a case-control study, EA children aged < 2 years who were treated with SGEP including EHBE were compared to children treated with strict avoidance. Data were collected from records and telephone questionnaires. Analysis was performed using non-parametric Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression models.Results: Thirty-nine egg-allergic children with a median age at intervention of 16 months (interquartile range: 13-19) were treated with SGEP and followed to a median age of 39 months (26.8-50.0). The median age at resolution of EA was compared to a matched group of 80 children treated with strict avoidance at least until 2 years of age or earlier natural resolution and followed to a median age of 69 months (46-104).The median estimated age at EA resolution in the SGEP group was 24 months (95% CI, 19.5-28.5 months), compared to 78 months (95% CI, 53-102) in the control group, P < .001. At last follow-up, 82% of treated children were tolerant to lightly cooked eggs vs 54% of controls, P = .001. Conclusion:A structured protocol with EHBE appears to promote faster resolution of EA. K E Y W O R D Satopic dermatitis, egg allergy, food allergy, heat denatured proteins, structured graduated protocol, wheezing | 825 GOTESDYNER ET al.

Significant correlations between measurements of AS and FEV1 in young asthmatics, suggest the presence of a common systemic, most likely inflammatory pathway involving both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

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