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A Musarra

Publications and source records attributed to A Musarra.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Practice parameters for sublingual immunotherapy.

The efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) are currently supported by clinical trials, meta-analysis and post-marketing surveys. Practice parameters for clinical use of SLIT are proposed here by a panel of Italian specialists, with reference to evidence based criteria. Indications to SLIT include allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, and isolated conjunctivitis (strength of recommendation: grade A). As to severity of the disease, SLIT is indicated in moderate/severe intermittent rhinitis, persistent rhinitis and mild to moderate asthma (grade D). SLIT may be safely prescribed also in children aged three to five years (grade B), and its use in subjects aged more than 60 years is not prevented when the indications and contraindication are ascertained (grade D). The choice of the allergen to be employed for SLIT should be made in accordance with the combination of clinical history and results of skin prick tests (grade D). Polysensitisation, i.e. the occurrence of multiple positive response does not exclude SLIT, which may be done with the clinically most important allergens (grade D). As to practical administration, co-seasonal, pre co-seasonal, and continuous schedules are available, being the latter recommended for perennial allergens or for pollens with particularly prolonged pollination, such as Parietaria (grade D). For pollens with relatively short pollination, such as grasses and trees (cypress, birch, alder, hazelnut, olive) the pre co-seasonal and perennial schedules are preferred (grade C). The build-up phases suggested by manufacturers can be safely used (grade A), but they can be modified according to the patient's tolerance (grade C). A duration of SLIT of 3-5 years is recommended to ensure a long-lasting clinical effect after the treatment has been terminated (grade C).

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMed2005

Post-marketing survey on the safety of sublingual immunotherapy in children below the age of 5 years.

BACKGROUND: The age below 5 years is considered a prudential limit for immunotherapy in view of the possible severity of side-effects. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) seems to be safe, but no study in very young children is available. We performed a safety post-marketing surveillance study in children below 5 years. METHODS: Children aged 3-5 years with respiratory allergy receiving SLIT were followed-up for at least 2 years. A diary card for side-effects was filled by parents at each dose given. Local and systemic side-effects were graded as: mild (no intervention, no dose adjustment), moderate (medical treatment and/or dose reduction), severe (life-threatening/hospitalization/emergency care). The comparative safety of different allergens and regimens was also assessed. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six children (mean age 4.2 years, 67 male) were included. Seventy-six (60%) had rhinitis with asthma, 34 (27%) rhinitis only and 16 (13%) only asthma. Immunotherapy was prescribed for mites (62%), grasses (22.2%), Parietaria (11.9%), Alternaria (2.4%) and olive (1.5%). Eighteen children underwent an accelerated build-up. The total number of doses was about 39,000. Nine side-effects were reported in seven children (5.6% patients and 0.2/1000 doses). Two episodes of oral itching and one of abdominal pain were mild. Six gastrointestinal side-effects were controlled by reducing the dose. All side-effects occurred during up-dosing phase. No difference in terms of safety among the allergens used was observed. CONCLUSION: SLIT is safe also in children under the age of 5 years.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multicenter double-blind comparative study of terfenadine and cetirizine in hay fever.

The efficacy and safety of terfenadine in the management of hay fever were compared with those of cetirizine in a multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study, carried out during the 1990 spring pollen season. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups of treatment, 70 patients being given terfenadine 120 mg, and 72 patients cetirizine 10 mg, once daily for 7 days. The severity of the main symptoms was evaluated at baseline and after treatment by a 4-point rating scale. In addition, the overall symptom severity was recorded daily by the patient on a diary card. Both terfenadine and cetirizine produced significant relief of symptoms by the end of treatment, with a decrease in symptom severity ranging from 46 to 69% for terfenadine and from 40 to 55% for cetirizine. Adverse effects experienced by terfenadine- and cetirizine-treated patients were mainly drowsiness, with minor differences between the two groups. The results of this study confirmed previous experiences, showing that both terfenadine and cetirizine once daily should be regarded as effective drugs for the management of hay fever.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Osmotically controlled-release salbutamol versus serial, single administration of anhydrous theophylline for control of nocturnal asthma].

In 30 patients affected with prevalent nocturnal asthma the authors assessed the efficacy of salbutamol (controlled release of osmotic type) compared with anhydrous theophylline (sustained release). On the basis of morning and evening PEF values and the symptoms reported by patients in a daily clinical diary, together with the reduced use of bronchodilators aerosols and on the functional respiratory parameters registered, both drugs appeared effective in the same degree in the control of nocturnal symptoms and were tolerated without any side effects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rush sublingual immunotherapy in Parietaria allergic patients.

Forty patients, monosensitized to Parietaria judaica with a clinical history of at least two years of rhinoconjunctivitis with or without asthma, were selected and randomly allocated in two groups. According to an open controlled experimental plan, twenty patients were submitted to sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with a solution of purified and biologically standardized extract of Parietaria judaica, following a preseasonal rush schedule. All patients, twenty belonging to the SLIT group and twenty belonging to the control group, were allowed to take authorized rescue drugs at need. At the end of the Parietaria pollen season. 15 patients for each group resulted to have complied with the criteria of the study. SLIT tolerance turned out to be excellent as no side effects were noticed in the group under treatment. No change could be detected in specific IgE and IgG4 in either group. According to the daily symptom and drug scores registered by each patient in a diary card, the SLIT group showed a statistically significant lower symptom score (p = 0.032) and lower drug plus symptom score (p = 0.037) during the peak pollen period (May-June 1994) in comparison to the group treated only with symptomatic drugs. Moreover, 13 out of 15 patients submitted to SLIT expressed a very favourable subjective opinion about the therapy and asked to continue the same treatment the following season. According to our results, the rush SLIT schedule, followed by maintenance during the pollen season, is simple, safe and effective for Parietaria pollen allergy and showed an excellent compliance.

Administration, Sublingual↗