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Biomedical subjects

B Kütting

Publications and source records attributed to B Kütting.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Natural rubber latex allergy: a problem of interdisciplinary concern in medicine.

In the past 10 years, IgE-mediated allergy to natural rubber latex has become a significant health problem in industrialized countries, especially among health care workers, patients with congenital malformations, and children with a history of multiple surgical interventions. Curative treatment inducing immunological tolerance in formerly sensitized patients is experimental and not yet generally available. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the seriousness of latex allergy and to understand the risk factors leading to this allergy. Preventive measures are needed to decrease the incidence of natural rubber latex sensitization. This article gives a brief review of the current state of knowledge concerning latex allergy, including a definition of latex, epidemiological data, identified allergens, the clinical spectrum, diagnostic procedures, cross-reactions, preventive measures, the legislative background, and economics.

Allergens↗
PubMed2001

[House dust mite-crustaceans-molluscs syndrome. A rare variant of food allergy in primary sensitization to inhaled allergens].

80% of all cases in food allergy in adults are preceded by a clinical or subclinical sensitisation to inhalative allergens. Food allergy is caused by cross-reactions between ingested food and inhaled particles. We report a patient suffering from the house-dust mite-crustaceans-molluscs-syndrome. Here, house-dust mite is the sensitising agent, therefore even first ingestion of invertebrates such as snails, shrimps, mussels or oysters can lead to severe anaphylaxis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of a dipstick test (Allergodip-Latex) for in vitro diagnosis of natural rubber latex allergy.

BACKGROUND: IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to latex has been recognized as an increasing health problem with far-reaching consequences for patients, regarding both their occupational situation and safety in medical care. Therefore, a correct diagnosis of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy is essential. The purpose of the study was to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of several established diagnostic methods for NRL allergy (in vitro assays and skin prick test) in relation to a new semiquantitative dipstick test (Allergodip-Latex, Allergopharma) as a screening test for NRL allergy. METHODS: Data obtained with quantitative assays including Pharmacia CAP System(FEIA), DPC-AlaSTAT and Magic Lite were compared with the dipstick test results in latex-sensitized (n = 151) and nonsensitized persons (n = 232). In addition these in vitro findings were related to clinical symptoms after exposure to latex and skin prick test results with a panel of different latex allergen extracts. RESULTS: When comparing sensitivity and specificity of all in vitro assays relative to skin prick test results the Pharmacia CAP System (FEIA) had the highest sensitivity in the range of 90%. Sensitivity of the other in vitro assays was in the range of 73.7-74.9%, specificity varied from 85.3 to 89.8%. A diagnostic standard was defined in terms of at least three corresponding test results out of all diagnostic methods (in vitro assays and skin prick test). The sensitivity and specificity of each diagnostic test were determined relative to this diagnostic standard. Hereby the Allergodip test results showed a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 93%. CONCLUSION: The dipstick test results are in line with the data of the other in vitro assays. In contrast to other in vitro assays the dipstick test requires no further laboratory equipment and is easy to perform.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

[Specific skin infiltration of extracutaneous B-cell lymphoma in healing herpes simplex skin].

Both herpes simplex and herpes zoster are not uncommon in patients affected by malignant lymphoma or leukemia. Of particular interest, the herpetic lesions may be followed by specific cutaneous infiltrates. We report on a patient with a centrocytic-centroblastic non-Hodgkin lymphoma who showed primary skin infiltrates within the area affected by herpes simplex. After effective therapy with aciclovir, papules and plaques developed at the site of the herpetic scars. Histologic investigation confirmed dense B-lymphocytic infiltrates with immunoglobulin light chain restriction and a granulomatous reaction. Although the chemotherapeutical regiment was modified, the patient died one month later of a lethal blast crisis. The occurrence of so called isotopic skin reactions and their prognostic significance is discussed.

Blast Crisis↗
PubMed2000

Safety of a two-day ultrarush insect venom immunotherapy protocol in comparison with protocols of longer duration and involving a larger number of injections.

BACKGROUND: Insect venom immunotherapy (VIT) is initiated by a dose increase protocol administered usually over 7 to 9 days. Shorter protocols have the advantage of reducing the patient's stay in the hospital. Very few data are currently available on the safety of shorter VIT dose increase protocols. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a reduction in the duration of the VIT dose increase protocol from 7 to 9 days to 2 days causes an increase in the incidence and severity of adverse reactions. METHODS: Between 1992 and 1997 we administered VIT to 1055 patients allergic to bee or wasp venom. We shortened the 7- to 9-day rush protocol stepwise to 2 days by reducing the number of injections and increasing the initial dose and compared the incidence and severity of adverse reactions. The patients were retrospectively divided into 3 cohorts: 20 injections over 7 to 9 days (cohort 1, 317 patients), 10 to 14 injections over 3 to 6 days (cohort 2, 335 patients), and 9 injections over 2 days (cohort 3, 403 patients). RESULTS: We observed no severe adverse reactions in any of the cohorts during VIT. Adverse reactions were treated in 7.1% of the patients by oral and in 2.9% by intravenous antihistamines and in 0.8% by systemic corticosteroids. The incidence of adverse reactions declined significantly from 22.4% in cohort 1 to 13.7% in cohort 2 and 10.7% in cohort 3 with reduced number of injections (P <.001). CONCLUSION: The incidence and severity of adverse reactions decline if the VIT dose increase protocol is shortened to 2 days.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Localized reticulate hyperpigmentation].

34 year-old pregnant woman presented with reticulate pigmentation of the flexures, the dorsum of the hands and the genitoperianal region. She was in good health and her family history was unremarkable. Histologic examination of the hyperpigmented patches revealed pigmented filiform downgrowths of the interfollicular epidermis and follicular infundibula, as well as small epithelial cysts. Upon immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies, the number of melanocytes appeared normal. The elongated dendritic processes of the melanocytes contained many mature melanosomes. In the adjacent keratinocytes large melanosomes did not aggregate into complexes. The diagnosis of localized reticulate pigmentary disorder was established. The knowledge of the broad clinical spectrum of localized reticulate hyperpigmentations with its favorable prognosis is of practical importance. Genital or flexural pigmented lesions have to be differentiated from melanosis of the vulva or acanthosis nigricans. The presented case gives further evidence that many of the proposed entities characterized clinically by reticulate pigmented macules and hyperkeratotic follicular lesions are different phenotypic expressions of the same autosomal dominant genodermatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Borrelia burgdorferi-associated primary cutaneous B cell lymphoma: complete clearing of skin lesions after antibiotic pulse therapy or intralesional injection of interferon alfa-2a.

We report two patients with low-grade malignant primary cutaneous B cell lymphoma in association with Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Extracutaneous manifestations were ruled out by standard staging procedures. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi was confirmed by cultivation from lesional skin in both patients. In the first patient skin lesions cleared completely after pulse therapy with cefotaxime, whereas in the second patient antibiotic treatment failed. In this patient, however, skin lesions completely cleared after intralesional injection of interferon alfa-2a. Antibiotic treatment or intralesional injection of interferon alfa-2a should be considered as a first-line treatment of Borrelia burgdorferi-associated primary cutaneous B cell lymphoma before more aggressive conventional therapeutic modalities (e.g., radiation therapy) are applied.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Rare variants of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas].

Besides the classical forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (C-CTCL), such as mycosis fungoides and Sézary's syndrome, unique variants may be encountered. The classification of these rare cutaneous T cell lymphomas is problematic and controversial. Newer classifications of lymphoma in general, such as the Revised European-American Lymphoma (REAL) Classification, emphasize well-established clinico-pathological entities. It seems appropriate to attempt to bring greater clarity to the classification of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas using the same principles. In this review, we list and characterize the rare variants of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, such as (1) clinical, histological and immunological variants of mycosis fungoides; (2) progressive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (P-CTCL) including transformed classical cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (TC-CTCL) and primary progressive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (PP-CTCL); (3) angiocentric and angioimmunoblastic cutaneous T-cell lymphomas; (4) large cell anaplastic, CD30+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; (5) HTLV-I-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL); (6) cutaneous manifestations of primary extracutaneous T-cell neoplasias; (7) unclassifiable cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1996

Mycosis fungoides presenting as an acquired ichthyosis.

A 25-year-old patient with an acquired ichthyosis-like condition is described. Histologic and molecular biologic examination of the fine, whitish, scaling skin lesions suggested the diagnosis of mycosis fungoides. Typical lesions of mycosis fungoides, such as patches, plaques, or tumors, were not present. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of mycosis fungoides presenting solely with the clinical features of acquired ichthyosis. The sudden appearance of ichthyosiform skin changes in adults must be taken seriously and the underlying cause must be evaluated. A skin biopsy should be performed in all cases of acquired ichthyosis to rule out mycosis fungoides.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Acquired ichthyosis-like skin disease. A challenge for diagnostic evaluation].

We report on four patients with acquired ichthyosis-like skin lesions seen in our out-patients' clinic in the last 6 years. Emphasis is placed on the case of a 25-year-old patient who suffered from mycosis fungoides with the clinical features of an acquired ichthyosis-like condition. Three further observations illustrate the broad clinical spectrum of acquired ichthyosis-like dermatoses. In these patients renal insufficiency, HIV infection or an extreme diet were the cause of the skin lesions. Our observations emphasise that an acquired ichthyosis-like condition should be regarded as a challenge to make a definite diagnosis. Guidelines for a step-by-step diagnostic procedure are proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Clinically relevant solitary palladium allergy].

A 54-year-old woman patient had symptoms of stomatitis and asthma following the provision of a dental prosthesis in July 1991. We found a positive patch test reaction to palladium only, without any concomitant metallic contact dermatitis; in particular there was no sensitization to nickel. This is a very rare sensitization. After replacement of the dental alloy the clinical symptoms improved.

Dental Prosthesis↗