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C Bremard-Oury

Publications and source records attributed to C Bremard-Oury.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Implementation of guidelines for seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a common disease altering quality of life. Its treatment is well established and guidelines have been proposed. However, their efficacy has never been tested. The aim of the study was to validate the guidelines of the International Consensus on Rhinitis in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. METHODS: A multicenter, multinational, open label, parallel, randomized study compared two therapeutic strategies in seasonal allergic rhinitis during a 3-week treatment. General practitioners were randomized into two groups. In the first group of 224 patients, doctors followed guidelines from the International Consensus on Rhinitis. Depending on the severity of nasal and ocular symptoms defined using visual analogue scales, patients received ebastine (an oral antihistamine), triamcinolone acetonide (a topical corticosteroid) and/or ophthalmic nedocromil sodium (a topical ocular cromone). In the second group of 241 patients, general practitioners had a free choice of treatment. The primary efficacy end points were quality of life measured using the standardized rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the symptom-medication scores assessed daily with an electronic dairy system. RESULTS: Adjusted mean total symptom scores over 21 days were 4.93 in the guidelines strategy group compared with 7.48 in the free-choice treatment group (P = 0.0001). Mean total scores in the RQLQ decreased by 2.19 in the guidelines group compared with a decrease of 1.79 in the free-choice treatment group (P = 0.0001). At 21 days, the least square mean difference in improvement in overall scores for RQLQ in the guidelines group compared with the free-choice treatment group was 0.53, which was greater than the minimal important difference. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis often present severe symptoms which are not well recognized or controlled by physicians using their own criteria of severity and treatment. Using a simple method for the evaluation of the severity and a simple therapeutic scheme based on International Guidelines, patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis presented a significant improvement by comparison with those receiving a non-standardized treatment.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Comparison of ebastine to cetirizine in seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults.

BACKGROUND: Second-generation histamine H1-receptor antagonists are accepted first-line systemic therapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Ebastine is a new histamine H1-receptor blocker that may differ in efficacy from currently used second-generation agents. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of daily treatment with ebastine, 10 mg, ebastine, 20 mg, or cetirizine, 10 mg, for relieving symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults. METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind study, outpatients were randomized to one of three parallel treatment groups: ebastine, 10 mg, ebastine, 20 mg, or cetirizine, 10 mg once daily in the morning for a 2-week period. Patients were evaluated clinically according to symptoms, discomfort, and a global assessment at baseline and on days 8 and 15 of treatment. The total symptom score, defined as the sum of the total morning score on the day of evaluation and the total evening score on the preceding day, was the primary efficacy parameter. RESULTS: Ebastine, 20 mg (n = 111), ebastine, 10 mg (116), and cetirizine, 10 mg (116), were all effective for improving nasal and ocular symptoms. There was, however, a general trend towards more rapid relief of symptoms with ebastine, 20 mg, and this reached statistical significance in some efficacy parameters after the first week of treatment. In a subpopulation of 158 patients who presented with more severe symptoms, statistically significantly greater improvement was seen with ebastine, 20 mg, compared with ebastine, 10 mg, as indicated by the mean change from baseline in the total symptom score averaged over the treatment period (-13.7 +/- 4.7 vs -11.8 +/- 3.8; P =.027) and in the morning symptom score (-6.7 +/- 2.7 vs -5.7 +/- 2.2; P = .042). All three treatments were well tolerated. Dry mouth, headache, and somnolence were the most common adverse events. CONCLUSION: Ebastine (10 mg), cetirizine (10 mg), and ebastine (20 mg) administered orally once daily for 2 weeks all appear to be effective for relieving the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Ebastine, 20 mg, may have advantages over ebastine, 10 mg, and cetirizine, 10 mg, in terms of a reduced time to achieve maximal efficacy and a superior level of efficacy in patients with more severe symptoms.

Adult↗

Overview of allergic mechanisms. Ebastine has more than an antihistamine effect.

Histamine antagonists together with topical steroids are the treatment of choice in allergic rhinitis. Many of these histamine antagonists exhibit effects in addition to blockade of the histamine receptor. In this study we have investigated the effects of ebastine and carebastine on the release of eicosanoids and cytokines from human dispersed polyp cells and the effect of these compounds on the release of inflammatory mediators into nasal lavage fluid after allergen challenge. Ebastine was shown to block the release of anti-IgE-induced prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and leukotriene C4/D4 from human nasal polyp cells (IC30 values of 2.57 and 9.6 mumol/L, respectively) and to inhibit the release of cytokines. Carebastine inhibited the release of PGD2 (IC30 8.14 mumol/L) but had little effect on cytokine release. When patients underwent nasal provocation tests with allergen, ebastine significantly increased the mean number of pollen grains required to induce an allergic response. In addition, the drug inhibited the release of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor but had no effect on any other mediators measured.

Adolescent↗

Immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide and its tetanus toxoid conjugate in patients with recurrent infections or humoral immunodeficiency.

The antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b was evaluated after vaccination with the capsular polysaccharide or its tetanus toxoid conjugate in 41 randomized patients with recurrent infections, IgA deficiency, common variable immunodeficiency, or the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Serum antibodies were measured using a Farr assay for total antibodies and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies of the three main immunoglobulin classes and of each IgG subclass. Antibody levels reached concentrations generally considered as protective in the majority of cases, the best response being observed after two injections of the conjugate vaccine with a 1-month interval. Vaccination with the conjugate therefore seems to be promising for the prevention of Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in such patients.

Adult↗

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for prevention of infection in high-risk premature infants: report of a multicenter, double-blind study.

The effectiveness of intravenously administered immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy for prophylaxis of infection was evaluated in high-risk preterm infants. Two hundred thirty-five premature newborns were randomly assigned, in a double-blind controlled trial, to treatment and placebo groups. Thirty-five infants (29%) of the Ig group and 29 (25%) of the placebo group had one or more episodes of certain infection. Thirty infants (25%) of the Ig group and 18 (16%) of the placebo group had one or more episodes of probable infection. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of certain or probable infection in treated and control infants. Nevertheless, among the infants who had one or more certain or probable episodes of infection, more of them belonged to the Ig group than to the placebo group. The possible deleterious effect of the administration of large amounts of polyspecific Ig is discussed.

Cross Infection↗

The antibody spectrum in individuals with defect expression of HLA class II and the LFA-1 glycoprotein family genes.

HLA class II antigens and the LFA-1 (lymphocyte function-associated type 1) glycoprotein family are cell surface structures of central importance in many lymphocyte reactions. Specific antibodies are normally restricted to particular IgG subclasses. In order to study the mechanism of isotype restriction we have analysed specific IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 antibodies directed against a number of different protein and polysaccharide antigens in individuals with HLA class II or LFA-1 deficiency. HLA class II deficiency resulted in decreased total IgG2, IgG4 and IgA in 4/4 patients, whereas total IgM and IgG were low in 2/4. In HLA class II deficiency the levels of specific antibodies directed against protein as well as polysaccharide antigens were frequently low. Virtually normal total as well as specific antibody levels were found in individuals with both severe and moderate forms of LFA-1 deficiency. There was no clear evidence for an abnormal subclass pattern of specific antibodies with a shift from one subclass to an isotype which is normally not used, in any of the patient groups investigated.

Adult↗

Serum IgG subclass deficiency in ataxia-telangiectasia.

Serum IgG subclass levels were determined using a competitive indirect immunoenzymatic assay with monoclonal antibodies in 16 patients with ataxia-telangiectasia. Eight children had IgA deficiency, two had IgG and IgA deficiency and six patients showed no immunoglobulin class abnormality. However, IgG4 and IgG2 levels were undetectable or low in almost every patient. An IgG3 deficiency was associated with the IgG2-IgG4 defect in three patients with undetectable IgA. IgG1 was very low in one patient with a total IgG deficiency. There was no clear correlation between subclass levels and the occurrence of infections.

Adolescent↗

[LAV infections and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in infants].

The clinical and immunologic abnormalities of 7 infants with Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus (LAV) infection are reported. Indicative immune changes, positive anti-LAV serologic test and/or virus isolation led to the diagnosis. In a case with a particularly severe form of the disease, whose mother died from AIDS, serologic tests and virus isolation were negative. Beside a case associated with blood transfusion, the familial and ethnic context helped the diagnosis. Clinical and biochemical features were close to those in adult AIDS, including hepatosplenomegaly, polyadenopathy, a decreased absolute number of OKT4(+) lymphocytes and hypergammaglobulinemia. The importance of cellular and sometimes also humoral immune deficiency was highly variable. For 4 patients, the severity of the immune deficiency allowed the diagnosis of AIDS. Occurrence of such an infection in the first months of life suggests a fetomaternal viral transmission; however, a postnatal contamination cannot be ruled out. Long-term prognosis is difficult to assess. It depends, among other factors, on the importance of the immune deficiency.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[LAV virus infections in children].

The clinical signs and immunological abnormalities in ten babies with lymphadenopathy associated virus infections (LAV) are described. We have made this diagnosis based on the association of specific immunological abnormalities, serological tests or the positive isolation of the virus. In one very severe case, whose mother died of AIDS, the serology and attempts to isolate the virus were both negative. Excluding the two post-transfusion cases, the ethnic and familial history always suggested the diagnosis. The clinical characteristics were very close to those in adults, being hepatosplenomegaly and generalized lymphadenopathy. There was an associated retardation of growth and weight gain. A decrease of the absolute number of OKT4(+) lymphocytes and hypergammaglobulinaemia were the abnormalities most frequently observed. The degree of immunodeficiency, both humoral and cellular was very variable. The existence of LAV infection during the first few months of life suggests a maternal-foetal transmission, but a post-natal infection cannot be eliminated. It is difficult to decide the long-term prognosis; it depends mainly on the degree of the immune deficiency.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗