Increased rate of positive penicillin skin tests among patients with glioma: insights into the association between allergies and glioma risk

Abstract

Object. Allergy and immunoglobulin E levels are inversely associated with glioma risk. Previous studies have focused on respiratory and food allergies, and little information is available regarding drug allergies. This study evaluated the rate of positive penicillin skin tests (PenSTs) and blood eosinophil counts in a large population of patients with glioma compared with nontumor controls to provide evidence for the relationship between drug allergies and glioma risk.Methods. A retrospective case-control study was conducted in patients diagnosed with glioma (n = 913) between January 2004 and June 2013. The study patients were matched with nontumor controls (n = 1091) for age, sex, and date of admission to the hospital. Preoperative results of the PenST and eosinophil counts were obtained, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression models, while a Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess overall survival.Results. The percentage of positive PenSTs was higher among patients with glioma than in control subjects. The age-, sex-, and admission date-adjusted OR for positive versus negative PenSTs was 2.392 (95% CI 1.891-3.026). Eosinophil counts were also higher in glioma cases than in controls: the OR for eosinophil > 0.06 × 10 9 /L versus ≤ 0.06 × 10 9 /L was 1.923 (95% CI 1.608-2.301). There was no association between positive PenST/eosinophil counts and glioma grade or patient survival (n = 105).Conclusions. In contrast to previously reported relationships between allergy and glioma, in the present study a significantly higher rate of positive PenSTs and higher eosinophil counts were found in patients with glioma than in nontumor controls. These results suggest a complex relationship between allergies and glioma development. (http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2014 KeY WorDS • glioma • penicillin • allergy • eosinophil • skin test • case control • oncologyAbbreviations used in this paper: AVM = arteriovenous malformation; CI = confidence interval; OR = odds ratio; PenST = penicillin skin test.

Selective Induced Altered Coccidians to Immunize and Prevent Enteritis

“…In a retrospective case-control trial (2004–2013), patients with glioma ( n = 913) had profoundly higher rate of penicillin skin positive (IgE) test and elevated blood eosinophil counts than matched controls ( n = 1091) with a possible link between glioma and food allergies [ 3 ]. Yet, β -lactam antibiotics, penicillin (e.g., amoxicillin and dicloxacillin), and cephalosporins (e.g., cefazolin and cefotaxime) are regularly used in animals.…”

“…For instance, the glioma development has been linked with elevated IgE and possible food allergies. Additionally, glioma patients have shown drastically higher rate of penicillin skin positive test with elevated blood eosinophil counts than the nonglioma control subjects [ 3 ]. These findings indicate an intricate association amongst glioma progression and possible state of combined food and antibiotic allergies in these patients.…”

Pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with neutrophil and T-cell infiltration and predicts clinical outcome in patients with glioblastoma

“…Complete blood count was obtained preoperatively before any treatment (e.g., steroids) and repeated the first day after surgery as previously described [ 23 ]. Blood samples were tested by the staff at the Department of Clinical Laboratory within 2 h of collection using a Sysmex XE-2100 complete blood count analyzer (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan).…”

Antibiotic Allergy and Blood Eosinophils Percent Could Be Prognostic Indicators of Glioma

“…Brie y, 2500 units of antibiotic were dissolved in 5 ml 0.9% NaCl. The intracutaneous test was performed on the volar forearm using 0.1 ml of the solution and was read after 20 minutes [23]. Positive results, consisting of a wheal ≥ 1 cm in diameter and are response, were determined and recorded by at least 2 nurses.…”

“…Allergies represent a type of immunological disorder resulting from an aberrant reaction to certain substance triggered by a decreased immune tolerance [5]. Allergies have been reported to be protective against several cancers, including glioma [3].…”