Sensitivity to Sulfited Foods among Sulfite-Sensitive Subjects with Asthma

Eight individuals with asthma who had been diagnosed as sulfite sensitive on the basis of double-blind capsule-beverage challenges were subjected to challenges with various sulfited foods, including lettuce, shrimp, dried apricots, white grape juice, dehydrated potatoes (as mashed potatoes), and mushrooms. Four of these patients failed to respond to challenges with any of the sulfited foods. The other four patients experienced a decrease in pulmonary function on double-blind challenges with sulfited lettuce. Two of three of these patients reacted to challenges with dried apricots and white grape juice; the fourth patient has not yet been challenged with these products. Only one of these four patients reacted to challenges with dehydrated potatoes and mushrooms, and, in this case, the response to double-blind challenges with dehydrated potatoes was not consistent. None of the sulfite-sensitive subjects with asthma responded to challenges with sulfited shrimp. It is concluded that sulfite-sensitive subjects with asthma will not necessarily react after ingestion of sulfited foods. The likelihood of a reaction is dependent on the nature of the food, the level of residual sulfite, the sensitivity of the patient, and perhaps on the form of residual sulfite and the mechanism of the sulfite-induced reaction

A Double-Blind Multicenter Group Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Nedocromil Sodium in the Management of Asthma

To determine the efficacy of nedocromil sodium in adult asthma patients using bronchodilators alone to control their disease, a consecutive sample of 127 patients with long-term asthma was studied for 16 weeks. The patients were maintained on sustained release theophylline preparations (SRT) and inhaled and oral beta-adrenergic bronchodilators (β2). One hundred sixteen patients (90 percent) completed the study; one placebo-treated patient withdrew owing to throat irritation and wheezing. Nedocromil sodium provided an additional benefit to adult patients receiving SRT and inhaled β2-agonists. With the exception of night-time asthma, nedocromil sodium maintained this improvement for the final 12 weeks of the study despite a reduction in concomitant bronchodilator therapy

Nasal Allergen Challenge (NAC): Practical Aspects and Applications from an EU/US perspective: A Workgroup Report of the AAAAI Rhinitis, Rhinosinusitis and Ocular Allergy Committee

Nasal allergen challenge (NAC) is applied in a variety of settings (research centres, specialty clinics and hospitals) as a useful diagnostic and research tool. NAC is indicated for diagnosis of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, local allergic rhinitis, occupational rhinitis, to design the composition of allergen immunotherapy in polysensitized patients and to investigate the physio-pathological mechanisms of nasal diseases. NAC is currently a safe and reproducible technique, although it is time and resource consuming. NAC can be performed by a variety of methods, but the lack of a uniform technique for performing and recording the outcomes, represents a challenge for those considering NAC as a clinical tool in the office. The availability of standardized allergens for NAC is also different in each country. The objective of this workgroup report is to review the current information about NAC, focusing on the practical aspects and application for diagnosis of difficult rhinitis phenotypes (e.g. local allergic rhinitis, occupational rhinitis), taking into account the particular context of practice in the United States and the European Union