The Impact of Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Food Challenge (DBPCFC) on the Socioeconomic Cost of Food Allergy in Europe

I Cerecedo,1* J Zamora,2* M Fox,3 J Voordouw,4 N Plana,5 E Rokicka,6 M Fernandez-Rivas,7 S Vázquez Cortés,7 M Reche,8 A Fiandor,8 M Kowalski,9 G Antonides,10 M Mugford,11 LJ Frewer,4 B de la Hoz1

1Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain 2Unidad de Bioestadística Clínica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain 3University of East Anglia, Health Economics Group, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, Norwich, UK 4Wageningen University, Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands 5CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Unidad de Bioestadística Clínica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain 6University of Lodz, Institute of Sociology, Lodz, Poland 7Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain 8Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain 9Lodz University, Department of Immunology, Rheumatology and Allergy, Faculty of Medicine, Lodz, Poland 10Wageningen University, Economics of Consumers and Households group, Wageningen, The Netherlands 11University of East Anglia, Health Economics Group, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, Norwich, UK *These authors contributed equally to this study

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2014; Vol. 24(6): 418-424

Abstract Background: Double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the gold standard diagnostic test in food allergy because it minimizes diagnostic bias. Objective: To investigate the potential effect of diagnosis on the socioeconomic costs of food allergy. Methods: A prospective longitudinal cost analysis study was conducted in Spain and Poland within the EuroPrevall project. Food-allergic patients were enrolled into the study and in all cases diagnosis was confirmed through a standardized DBPCFC. Data were collected through a self-administered survey on all aspects of health and social care resource use, costs of living, and costs of leisure activities. Costs were measured before and 6 months after the DBPCFC and reported in international dollars with 2007 as the benchmark year. Results: Forty-two patients were enrolled. Twenty-one patients had a negative DBPCFC and the suspected food was reintroduced into their diet. Comparing total direct costs before and after the DBPCFC, the reactive group spent a significantly higher amount (median increase of $813.1 over baseline), while the tolerant group’s spending decreased by a median of $87.3 (P=.031). The amount of money spent on food 6 months after diagnosis was also significantly higher in the reactive group (P=.040). Finally, a larger, but not statistically significant, decrease in total indirect costs was observed in the tolerant group compared with the reactive group ($538.3 vs $32.3). Conclusion: DBPCFC has an impact on indirect and direct costs of living. The main contribution to this increase was money spent on food. Key words: Food allergy. Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Food Challenge. Diagnosis. Socioeconomic impact.   Free Full-Text (PDF)   How to use PDF documents

The relationship between allergy and asthma control, quality of life, and emotional status in patients with asthma: a cross-sectional study

Research

Hikmet Coban¹ and Yusuf Aydemir^12*

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2014, 10:67  doi:10.1186/s13223-014-0067-4

Published: 21 December 2014

Abstract (provisional)

Background 

Psychiatric comorbidities are prevalent in patients with chronic somatic disorders such as asthma. But, there is no clear evidence regarding the effect of atopic status and the type of sensitized allergen on emotional status. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of house dust mites and pollen allergies on emotional status, asthma control and the quality of life in patients with atopic asthma.

Bronchial thermoplasty: a new therapeutic option for the treatment of severe, uncontrolled asthma in adults

1. Marie-Christine Dombret1,8, 
2. Khuder Alagha2,8, 
3. Louis Philippe Boulet3,
4. Pierre Yves Brillet4, 
5. Guy Joos5, 
6. Michel Laviolette3, 
7. Renaud Louis6,
8. Thierry Rochat7, 
9. Paola Soccal7, 
10. Michel Aubier1 and 
11. Pascal Chanez2⇑

+Author Affiliations

1. ¹Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Bichat APHP, U700 INSERM University Hospitals Dept, Diderot University, Paris, France ²Dept of Respiratory Medicine, APHM, INSERM U1067 CNRS UMR 7333, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France³Research Centre at the Institute of Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada⁴Dept of Radiology, Avicenne Public Hospital, Bobigny, France ⁵Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium⁶Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Liege University Hospital, GIGAI3 Research Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium⁷Dept of Respiratory Medicine, HUG Geneva, Switzerland⁸Both authors contributed equally

1. Pascal Chanez, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Marseille Public Hospitals, INSERM U1067 CNRS UMR 7333, Aix Marseille University, Hôpital Nord, 13015 Marseille, France. E-mail: pascal.chanez@univ-amu.fr
2. 
   
3. Abstract

Bronchial thermoplasty is a young yet promising treatment for severe asthma whose benefit for long-term asthma control outweighs the short-term risk of deterioration and hospitalisation in the days following the treatment. It is an innovative treatment whose clinical efficacy and safety are beginning to be better understood.

Bronchial thermoplasty: a new therapeutic option for the treatment of severe, uncontrolled asthma in adults

Tristetraprolin and its Role in Regulation of Airway Inflammation

Molecular Pharmacology November 26, 2014mol.114.095984

Pavan Prabhala and 

Alaina Ammit*

+Author Affiliations

1. University of Sydney

1. ↵* Corresponding author; email: alaina.ammit@sydney.edu.au

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are clinically and socio-economically important diseases globally. Currently the mainstay of anti-inflammatory therapy in respiratory diseases is corticosteroids.

The Role of Histamine H1 and H4 Receptors in Atopic Dermatitis: From Basic Research to Clinical Study

Allergology International
Vol. 63 (2014) No. 4 p. 533-542

http://dx.doi.org/10.2332/allergolint.13-RA-0675

REVIEW ARTICLE

The Role of Histamine H1 and H4 Receptors in Atopic Dermatitis: From Basic Research to Clinical Study

Yusuke Ohsawa¹⁾, Noriyasu Hirasawa¹⁾

1) Laboratory of Pharmacotherapy of Life-Style Related Diseases, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University

 Released on J-STAGE 20141211  

Keywords: allergic inflammation, atopic dermatitis, histamine H1 receptor, histamine H4 receptor, pruritus

•  Full Text PDF [465K]

The correlation between IL-20 and the Th2 immune response in human asthma

> Vol. 32, No. 4, December 2014 

Jinxiang Wu, Guicheng Wang, Junqing Hao, Wenbin Gong, Junfei Wang, Jiping Zhao, Liang Dong

Food Allergen Panel Testing Often Results in Misdiagnosis of Food Allergy

J. Andrew Bird, MD

, 

Maria Crain, CPNP

, 

Pooja Varshney, MD

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.07.062

Article Info

• Abstract
• Full Text
• Images
• References
• Supplemental Materials

Objective

To determine the utility of food allergy panel testing among patients referred to a pediatric food allergy center.