Allergy and asthma proceedings :
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Allergy Asthma Proc · Sep 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySeasonal variability of exacerbations of severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma and clinical benefits of benralizumab.
Benralizumab is a humanized, afucosylated, monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-5 receptor alpha and induces direct, rapid, and nearly complete depletion of eosinophils via enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In the United States, benralizumab is indicated for add-on maintenance treatment of patients ≥12 years old with severe asthma and an eosinophilic phenotype. ⋯ Benralizumab significantly and consistently reduced asthma exacerbations across all seasons versus placebo for patients with severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma.
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Allergy Asthma Proc · Sep 2018
Improved diagnostic clarity in shrimp allergic non-dust-mite sensitized patients.
Allergen specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels predictive of shrimp allergy have not been identified, but these may be helpful in identifying patients at risk for shrimp-induced allergic reactions. ⋯ HDM sensitization influences shrimp and HDM component sIgE levels and, consequently, their diagnostic accuracy in shrimp allergy. In our series, in the patients who were non-HDM sensitized, a shrimp sIgE level of >3.55 kUA/L showed 100% sensitivity and, Der p 10 sIgE of >3.98 kUA/L showed 100% specificity for the diagnosis of shrimp allergy. These levels may not be applicable to every patient and, therefore, may not obviate the need for OFC.