Showing papers by "Gennaro Liccardi published in 1998"

Prevalence of Sensitization to Alternaria in Allergic Patients in Italy

Abstract: Background The actual prevalence of sensitization to Alternaria is not known, partly due to the unreliability of diagnostic extracts. Objectives To assess skin positivity to extracts of Alternaria in a wide population of Italian patients suffering from respiratory symptoms using a biologically standardized extract. Methods A total of 2942 patients were skin prick tested with Alternaria, and a panel of common inhalant allergens. Blood samples for specific IgE quantitation were taken both from patients positive and from patients negative (control group) to Alternaria extract. Results Three hundred six patients (10.4%, ranging from 1.8% in Turin to 29.3% in Cagliari) were positive to Alternaria; 37 were sensitized to only this mold, while the remaining 269 were sensitized to at least one other allergen. Of the Alternaria-positive patients, 79.7% suffered from rhinitis and 53.3% from asthma, either alone or associated with other symptoms. Conclusions We suggest that, at least in Italy and in countries with similar climatic and environmental situations, standardized Alternaria extract should be included in the panel commonly used in investigating the allergen responsible in patients suffering from respiratory allergy.

Sensitization to cockroach allergens in a sample from the urban population living in Naples (southern Italy)

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of allergic sensitization to cockroach allergens in a group of atopic patients living in the urban area of Naples. Four hundred and fourteen consecutive patients were submitted to the following diagnostic procedures: anamnestic data; clinical examination; and skin prick test by using a standardized pricker and allergenic extracts, one of which contained a mix of whole bodies of Blattella orientatis, Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana. The evaluation of cockroach serum specific IgE antibodies was carried out in the 19 patients (4.58%) who showed a positive skin prick test to cockroach allergens. The majority of cockroach sensitive individuals were males and exhibited perennial respiratory symptoms; 17 of these patients were also sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens. The results of our study demonstrated that the prevalence of cockroach sensitization as determined by skin prick test in our urban area (Naples) is lower in comparison to other European studies. Up to now, it is not clear if the association between cockroach-D. pteronyssinus sensitization can be determined by a cross-reactivity between the allergens or by their coexistence in the same indoor environments. Considering the absence of a visual presence of cockroaches in the indoor environments of our cockroach-sensitive patients we suggest the possibility of unrecognized exposure to cockroach materials and, moreover, the possibility of the carrying of such allergens from infested places on clothing, as we demonstrated for Fel d I.

Intraoral and respiratory allergy to Eruca sativa (Cruciferae family) in a subject with sensitization to pollen allergens.

Abstract: Eruca sativa (Arugula, Rocket, Roquette; Cruciferae family) is a spontaneous or cultivated plant native to Mediterranean countries (Italy, France, Spain, and Greece), but it is becoming more popular in the United States. This vegetable constitutes a typical Mediterranean food because it is widely used as an uncooked ingredient in many dishes such as salads, pizza, and pasta. Reactions to fresh E. sativa were considered very uncommon in comparison with reaction to other vegetables, even among subjects with pollen allergy. The few available studies show that sensitization to E. sativa1 or other Cruciferae plant allergens2, 3 is able to induce especially cutaneous or systemic manifestations (e.g., contact urticaria and anaphylactic shock). In this report we describe an unusual case of E. sativa sensitization with only intraoral and respiratory symptoms in a subject with pollen allergy.

Brief communications Washing the clothes of cat owners is a simple method to prevent cat allergen dispersal

Abstract: Several studies have demonstrated that sensitization to allergens derived from domestic animals, particularly cats, is an important cause of respiratory symptoms and sometimes may constitute a risk factor for asthma exacerbations leading to emergency department visits.1 The major allergen, Fel d 1, is found in all indoor environments containing a cat2; however, this allergen is also present in dust samples from homes and public places where a cat has never been kept. 3 Consequently, not only direct exposure to cats but also indirect contact should be responsible for an allergic sensitization. Recently, we demonstrated that winter clothes (skirts and trousers) of patients with a cat in the home contain a higher level of Fel d 1 concentration in comparison with those of subjects who have a dog in the home and those of control subjects without animals at home.4 As a consequence, clothing may constitute an important means for the distribution of this allergen in cat-free environments and may consequently also represent a risk factor for triggering asthma in cat-sensitized individuals. In this study we evaluate the effect of washing with water on allergen content of clothing and, consequently, the possibility of preventing cat allergen dispersal. METHODS Materials Twenty-two identical cotton webs (80 〈 100 cm) were put in the baskets of 22 male cats for 1 week. Cat owners were asked to change the position of the webs every day to ensure a better contact with the animals. The cotton webs were transferred to our laboratory by using plastic envelopes to avoid the possibility of cat allergen contamination, and dust samples were collected for 5 minutes in a cat-free room. Each web was divided in two parts (40 〈 50 cm). The first part was vacuumed directly, and the second was washed by using only water, dried, and then vacuumed. To exclude cat allergen contamination, five webs not exposed to cats and the indoor environment of our cat-free room were also vacuumed. High-volume sampling For the dust collected from cotton webs, we used a high-volume air sampler (CF/20 Gelaire; Flow Labs, Milan, Italy), which consists of a double-head membrane pump connected to two-flow control flowmeters and a volumetric counter. This device works with a constant air flow (20 L/min), and any particulate matter is harvested onto glass fiber filters that are 25 mm in diameter with a pore size of 2μm (borosilicate microfibre glass with acrylin resin binder, AP 20 Millipore; Milan, Italy). The filters have a measured efficiency of 84% for trapping all particles with a diameter greater than 3 μm. To reduce the risk of contamination, each filter was placed in a sealed separate tube. The device for the dust collection was also kept in a sealed box. Assay of allergens in vacuumed dust samples