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Biomedical subjects

L Andri

Publications and source records attributed to L Andri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Symptomatic relief after grass nasal immunotherapy: lasting efficacy after 4-5 years.

Twenty-two patients with rhinoconjunctivitis from grass pollen allergy, who were initially recruited for a one-year open clinical trial with local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT), continued the treatment for 2 or 3 more years. Three to four years after the end of treatment, they were reapproached and agreed to complete a questionnaire to evaluate their symptoms and rescue medications during the grass-pollen season. Twelve patients (54.6%) were almost free of symptoms, six patients (27.3%) complained of only minor symptoms, and four (18.1%) still had substantial symptoms. The median score for cumulative symptoms 4-5 years after stopping LNIT (112.5 points) was lower than before LNIT (291.6 points) and after the one-year clinical trial (138.2 points). The present observational study confirms the validity of LNIT as an alternative to conventional subcutaneous immunotherapy.

Conjunctivitis, Allergic↗
PubMed1997

Clinical efficacy and safety of local nasal immunotherapy.

Local nasal immunotherapy represents an alternative route of allergen administration. It was proposed to overcome the risk of systemic reactions rarely reported during the traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy. Some studies carried out in the past generally showed good efficacy but poor tolerability. The aqueous extracts mostly used in these studies carry some drawbacks such as the volume effect, self-digestion and the difficulty of administering reproducible dosages. The recent availability of allergen extracts in powder form has led to better stability and standardization. The studies carried out with these freeze-dried allergens showed clinical efficacy and good tolerability in perennial (mite, cat) and seasonal (grass, birch, Parietaria) allergic rhinitis. According to these findings this new local nasal immunotherapy with extract in powder form represents a suitable alternative to the traditional immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1996

Local nasal immunotherapy with extract in powder form is effective and safe in grass pollen rhinitis: a double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Local nasal immunotherapy has been studied, by means of an extract in powder form, in patients with allergic rhinitis caused by grass pollen. METHODS: Thirty-two patients allergic to grass were studied for 37 weeks in a double-blind controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive history, skin test result, RAST finding, and result of intranasal challenge to grass pollen. Two 16-patient groups were randomly assigned to active or placebo treatment. The treatment lasted 26 weeks (14 for the build-up phase, 12 for the maintenance period). RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in nasal symptoms during the treatment. During the pollen season the mean weekly symptom and medication scores were significantly lower in the treated group, compared with the control group, even considering each allergic symptom separately. Moreover, only in the treated group was a significant increase of specific nasal threshold to grass pollen observed after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that local nasal immunotherapy with allergen in powder form can be a suitable alternative to the traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy in terms of clinical efficacy and safety in grass-allergic rhinitis.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1996

Nimesulide in the treatment of patients intolerant of aspirin and other NSAIDs.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and other NSAIDs are responsible for many adverse effects. Among them, pseudo-allergic reactions (urticaria/angioedema, asthma, anaphylaxis) affect up to 9% of the population and up to 30% of asthmatic patients. The mechanisms provoking these reactions have not been fully elucidated, but it appears that inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) plays a central role. The anti-inflammatory action of nimesulide differs from that of other NSAIDs, possibly because of its chemical structure. In particular, nimesulide is selective for COX-2 and displays additional properties in terms of its effects on inflammatory mediator synthesis and release. For these reasons, nimesulide is generally well tolerated by NSAID-intolerant patients and patients with NSAID-induced asthma. The good tolerability of nimesulide as an alternative drug for use in patients with NSAID intolerance has been demonstrated in a large number of clinical studies.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1995

Local nasal immunotherapy for birch allergic rhinitis with extract in powder form.

BACKGROUND: Traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy has been proved effective in birch pollenosis. It has, however, some drawbacks as systemic reactions, which are rare but important. Local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) represents a potential safer route of allergen administration. OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy and safety of local nasal immunotherapy by means of an extract in powder form as treatment of birch allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Thirty birch allergic patients have been selected on the basis of a positive history, skin test, radioallergosorbent test assay (RAST) and specific nasal challenge. Two 15 patient groups were randomly assigned to the active treatment or to the placebo one. Treatment lasted 22 weeks (14 for the build-up phase and eight for maintenance period) and symptoms were recorded during the treatment and the birch pollen season. RESULTS: The clinical efficacy of LNIT is suggested by a significant reduction of medication score only in the treated group during the pollen season, although the symptom score was significantly lower in the treated group for 1 week only. Moreover, a significant increase of specific nasal threshold dose was observed after treatment only in the active treated group. Mild adverse reaction to LNIT, limited to the upper respiratory tract, were reported during the treatment in the active group, but they did not interfere with LNIT schedule. No asthmatic or systemic reaction were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that LNIT with allergen in powder form has proven clinically effective in the treatment of birch allergic rhinitis. Further studies are needed to establish whether this treatment can be considered a real alternative to the traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy in birch allergic rhinitis.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1995

Multicentre evaluation of Capture Assay Radim Liquid Allergen for measurement of specific IgE antibodies.

A multicentre trial of Capture Assay Radim Liquid Allergen was performed to define the sensitivity, specificity and clinical reliability of the system in diagnostic allergology. The results of the evaluation were compared with clinical data and in vivo testing. Good agreement was obtained for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D1), Cat's epithelium (E1), Betula verrucosa (T3) and Olea europea (T9), Artemisia vulgaris (W6) and Parietaria officinalis (W19). Some spreading of data was observed for Artemisia absinthium (W5), Cynodon dactylon (G2), and Lolium perenne (G5). We found a high number of negative cases for Alternaria alternata (M6). The advantages offered by the system are the automation, the small quantity of serum requested, the supply of quantitative results in international units of specific IgE, the user-friendly software. The data are sufficiently reliable for the diagnostic system to be introduced into the clinical laboratory allergological routine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Pituitary-adrenal function in asthmatic patients treated with high dose of beclomethasone.

Ten asthmatic patients receiving long term treatment with high dose of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) (750 to 2,250 micrograms/die, average 1,400 +/- 474 micrograms) underwent evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis under basal conditions (serum cortisol and ACTH levels at 8.00 AM and 8.00 PM, 24-hours free urinary cortisol) and by means of pharmacological tests (short tetracosactide and Corticotrophin Releasing Factor Tests). Basal ACTH serum levels at 8.00 PM were lower than the normal values in all patients: three patients had reduced 24-hr free urinary cortisol and six subjects showed lower cortisol serum levels at 8.00 PM. A normal response to the short tetracosactide test was observed in all patients, whilst Corticotrophin Releasing Factor (CRF) induced an increase in ACTH and cortisol levels (expressed as delta AUC) that was significantly lower in the BPD treated patients compared with a control group of five healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Thus BPD, in high doses, may cause a partial inhibition of HPA axis. Our results show that determination of basal ACTH level and CRF test are more sensitive than serum cortisol levels and short tetracosactide test to evaluate a suppression of HPA axis in patients receiving long term inhaled high doses of BDP.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1994

Tolerability of nimesulide in aspirin-sensitive patients.

In most patients with aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) intolerance, antiinflammatory treatment is a clinical problem. In this study we evaluated the tolerance to a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, nimesulide (Aulin, Boehringer Mannheim, Italia), in 429 patients presenting with clear histories of intolerance to NSAIDs. Nimesulide has been chosen due to its weak inhibitory action on cyclooxygenase and its peculiar mechanism of action. We carried out a single-blind challenge with cumulative doses of nimesulide administered on three different days, until the therapeutic dose of 200 mg or intolerance symptoms were reached. Nimesulide has been well tolerated in 418 subjects and only 11 patients (3.3%) showed a positive test. Our study demonstrates that nimesulide seems to be a suitable drug in aspirin hypersensitivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Local nasal immunotherapy for Dermatophagoides-induced rhinitis: efficacy of a powder extract.

BACKGROUND: Local nasal immunotherapy by means of an extract in "macronized" powder from was studied in allergic rhinitis to Dermatophagoides species. METHODS: Twenty-four Dermatophagoides-sensitive patients were studied for 12 months in a double-blind controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive history, skin test, radioallergosorbent test, and intranasal challenge to Dermatophagoides antigen. Two 12-patient groups were selected at random; the first group was given active treatment, and the second received placebo. RESULTS: After 6 months, the mean weekly symptom and medication scores were significantly lower in the treated group than in the control group. The treated group had a significant increase of specific nasal threshold to Dermatophagoides antigen after treatment. Adverse reactions to local nasal immunotherapy, which were limited to the upper respiratory tract, occurred very rarely and did not interfere with dose schedule. CONCLUSION: Local nasal immunotherapy in powder form may be a suitable alternative to the traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy in terms of clinical efficacy and safety.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A comparison of the efficacy of cetirizine and terfenadine. A double-blind, controlled study of chronic idiopathic urticaria.

In a 20-d, double-blind, randomized, parallel study, the efficacy of cetirizine and terfenadine was compared in 30 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. Subjects were randomly divided into two 15-patient groups. The first group was given cetirizine (10 mg once daily); the second terfenadine (60 mg twice daily). Cetirizine proved to be more effective than terfenadine in controlling urticaria symptoms. In fact, the score of the investigators' overall assessment was significantly lower in the cetirizine-treated group than in the terfenadine-treated group. Moreover, patient evaluation by a visual analog scale and symptoms assessed on a 4-point scale showed a better improvement in the cetirizine group. The number and severity of side-effects were similar in both treatment groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Immunoblotting study of specific antibody patterns against latex and banana.

We evaluated three nurses presenting with hypersensitivity to latex gloves: the first suffered from rhinitis and asthma caused by latex and cutaneous and respiratory symptoms by banana; the second, allergic to grass pollens, had systemic symptoms handling latex gloves but no reactivity against banana; the third, with no history of allergic disease, had contact urticaria caused by latex. Skin prick tests and RAST confirmed the presence of specific IgE to latex in all the patients. By means of immunoblot after SDS-PAGE the pattern of antibody response (IgE/IgG) proved to be characteristic to each subject. Moreover, pre-incubation of patient sera with the banana extract could completely absorb the specific anti-banana IgE of the patient allergic to both latex and banana, but failed to modify the anti-latex IgE pattern of the three patients, even if the anti-latex IgG pattern partially changed. In our opinion immunoblotting techniques could play a role in clarifying a complex individual response to unusual allergens.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Local nasal immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis to Parietaria. A double-blind controlled study.

Preseasonal local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) by means of an extract in macronized powder form has been studied in allergic rhinitis to parietaria. Twenty-four Parietaria-sensitive patients have been studied for 18 weeks in a double-blind controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive skin test, RAST and intranasal challenge to Parietaria antigen. Three eight-patient groups were randomly planned: the first group was given native Parietaria product, the second modified Parietaria product, and the third placebo. During the pollen season no difference was observed in mean weekly symptom score between the three groups, while the mean weekly medication score was significantly lower in the treated groups than the control group. Only the treated groups showed a significant increase in specific nasal threshold to Parietaria after treatment. Adverse reactions to LNIT, limited to the upper respiratory tract, occurred rarely and did not interfere with the dose schedule. This study indicates that LNIT in powder form may be a suitable alternative to the traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy in terms of clinical efficacy and safety.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Combined treatment of allergic rhinitis with terfenadine and nimesulide, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug.

Thirty patient with allergic rhinitis sensitized to Parietaria pollen were enrolled in a double-blind clinical trial in order to evaluate whether the addition of nimesulide, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, to standard antihistamine therapy may improve symptom relief. Patients were randomly divided in two groups: one was given terfenadine (120 mg/day) and nimesulide (200 mg/day), the other was given terfenadine (120 mg/day) and placebo. Both treatments lasted 30 days. Clinical efficacy was assessed by physical examination on 1st, 15th, 30th day of treatment, daily self-evaluation of symptom score, and patient's overall judgement at the end of the trial. The group receiving terfenadine + nimesulide reported a significant lower symptom score and gave a better overall evaluation than the group receiving terfenadine + placebo. These results suggest that the addition of nimesulide to antihistamine treatment may be useful to achieve a better relief of symptoms in allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Migraine and food].

The frequency of migraine has been studied in adult patients with suspected adverse reaction to foods. Migraine was present in 41 out of 300 patients (13.6%). 38 of these 41 subjects have been treated with elimination diet; 25 (65.7%) obtained a significant improvement of migraine and subsequently, performed challenge test. 24 patients were affected by food intolerance and only one by food allergy. The remaining 13 non-responder subjects suffering from migraine have been subsequently submitted to pharmacological treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Skin and serum reactivity to some storage mites in children sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

The incidence of skin test and RAST positivity for Dermatophagoides farinae and storage mites (Glycyphagus privatus, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Acarus siro, and Gohieria fusca) have been evaluated in children with bronchial asthma and positive prick test to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The storage mite with highest incidence of skin and RAST positivity was Gohieria fusca, which caused a positive response in more than 50% of the children evaluated. This antigen appears to possess allergenic determinants not present in Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The sensitivity to this antigen might be considered in house dust mite-allergic children who do not improve after specific immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extracts.

Adolescent↗