Search

Although it is known that women have a higher prevalence of asthma than men, it is not known whether and/or how gender differences in asthma severity are affected by age. Asthma hospitalization rates were compared for men and women in New York State from 1990 through 2006 between the ages of 20 and 84. Female and male hospitalization rates were calculated and characterized for the different age intervals. The ratio between female to male hospitalization rates were compared for different age groups. While males showed an overall linear increase in hospitalization rates with increasing age, women had a steeper increase in hospitalization rates followed by a slowing beginning at the ages between 40-54. The ratio of the female to male hospitalization rates was maximal in this age interval, with a mean ratio of 2.41 compared to 1.97 in other ages. For each year, this female to male ratio was consistently higher for the age range between 40 to 54 than for other ages, and this difference remained when admissions associated obesity, tobacco dependence, and chronic non-asthmatic pulmonary disease were excluded. Differences between the hospitalization rates for men and women vary by age. The gender gap in hospitalization rates appears to be maximal between the ages of 40 and 54. This may reflect age related asthma prevalence and/or severity differences between men and women.

Background The epidemiologic characteristics of angioedema have not been well described in the United States, especially regarding hospitalization patterns. This fact is particularly relevant given the increased use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, a known cause of angioedema. Objective To profile hospital admissions for angioedema in New York State with respect to age, sex, race, comorbidities, and year. Methods A database of all acute hospitalizations in New York State was examined between 1990 and 2003. Patient admissions that had the principal admission diagnoses of angioedema and other acute allergic disorders (anaphylaxis, urticaria, or allergy unspecified) were extracted. Characteristics of angioedema admissions were tabulated and compared with those of other acute allergic disease admissions with respect to demographic variables and comorbidities. Results There were 6,775 hospitalizations for angioedema during the study period. The number of angioedema hospitalizations increased progressively from 293 in 1990 to 636 in 2003, which exceeded the number of hospitalizations for anaphylaxis that year. African Americans constituted 42% of the angioedema admissions despite being less than 16% of the state population. The increase in hospitalizations for angioedema was most marked in patients with a diagnosis of hypertension, and for each study year, patients admitted with angioedema were consistently older than those admitted with other allergic disorders. Conclusions Angioedema has become the most common nonasthmatic acute allergic disorder that results in hospitalization in New York State. The predilection for angioedema occurring in patients with hypertension suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use may play a role in this trend.

While intensive chemotherapy is recommended for the treatment of non-HIV related adult small non-cleaved lymphoma (SNCL), including Burkitt's and Burkitt-like lymphoma, optimal treatment for patients with HIV-associated SNCL is not known. We assessed remissions and survival in a cohort of 44 consecutive HIV positive patients diagnosed with SNCL at our hospital between June 2000 and November 2001 using chart and pathology data. Median follow-up, survival and survival at the median follow-up time were 4.5 months, 4 months and 49% respectively. Of this cohort 39% were complete responders (CR) and 36% were long-term lymphoma-free survivors. Two patients relapsed from CR. Short course intensive chemotherapy (McMaster) was administered to 23 patients; 17 received less intensive conventional combination chemotherapy; and four received single-agent chemotherapy or no treatment. In the McMaster group, 38% (9/23) achieved CR with no relapses. Seven patients (30%) died of toxicity compared with one (6%) in the less intensively treated group. Of the stage I patients, 75% (6/8) achieved long-term CR with half being treated conventionally. Conventional chemotherapy may be curative for early stage HIV-SNCL. In advanced disease, McMaster chemotherapy was found to be associated with substantial early mortality but was curative in a significant number of patients.

Anaphylaxis-related deaths in the United States have not been well characterized in recent years.We sought to define epidemiologic features and time trends of fatal anaphylaxis in the United States from 1999 to 2010.Anaphylaxis-related deaths were identified by using the 10th clinical modification of the International Classification of Diseases system diagnostic codes on death certificates from the US National Mortality Database. Rates were calculated by using census population estimates.There were a total of 2458 anaphylaxis-related deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2010. Medications were the most common cause (58.8%), followed by "unspecified" (19.3%), venom (15.2%), and food (6.7%). There was a significant increase in fatal drug-induced anaphylaxis over 12 years: from 0.27 (95% CI, 0.23-0.30) per million in 1999 to 2001 to 0.51 (95% CI, 0.47-0.56) per million in 2008 to 2010 (P .001). Fatal anaphylaxis caused by medications, food, and unspecified allergens was significantly associated with African American race and older age (P .001). Fatal anaphylaxis to venom was significantly associated with white race, older age, and male sex (P .001). The rates of fatal anaphylaxis to foods in male African American subjects increased from 0.06 (95% CI, 0.01-0.17) per million in 1999 to 2001 to 0.21 (95% CI, 0.11-0.37) per million in 2008 to 2010 (P .001). The rates of unspecified fatal anaphylaxis decreased over time from 0.30 (95% CI, 0.26-0.34) per million in 1999 to 2001 to 0.09 (95% CI, 0.07-0.11) per million in 2008 to 2010 (P .001).There are strong and disparate associations between race and specific classes of anaphylaxis-related mortality in the United States. The increase in medication-related deaths caused by anaphylaxis likely relates to increased medication and radiocontrast use, enhanced diagnosis, and coding changes.

Study Objective: Although the addition of H 2 blockers to H 1 antagonists has been promoted for use in anaphylaxis, there have been no large studies establishing the advantage of this approach in treating acute allergic syndromes. In this study we tested the hypothesis that combined H 1 and H 2 blockage results in improved outcomes in patients treated for acute allergic syndromes compared with treatment with H 1 blockade alone. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 91 adult patients with acute allergic syndromes were treated with either 50 mg of diphenhydramine and saline solution (control group) or with 50 mg of diphenhydramine and 50 mg of ranitidine (active group). These patients were treated with parenteral administration. Patients were recruited from an emergency department at an urban academic medical center. The primary endpoints were resolution of urticaria, angioedema, or erythema at 2 hours after protocol treatment. Areas of cutaneous involvement, heart rates, blood pressures, respiratory findings, and symptom scores were also assessed at baseline, 1 hour, and 2 hours. Results: There were significantly more patients without urticaria at 2 hours among the patients in the active group compared with those in the control group. Both groups had similar proportions of urticaria at baseline. Logistic regression models to predict resolution of urticaria, which accounted for baseline urticarial involvement, showed odds ratios in favor of the active group treatment. Similar findings were observed when the absence of both urticaria and angioedema was considered as the dependent variable. There was not a significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the absence of erythema or angioedema (irrespective of the presence of urticaria) at 2 hours. Blood pressure and symptoms did not show differences between the 2 groups over time. Lower heart rates were observed 1 hour after treatment in the active treatment group (mean reduction 10 beats/min) compared with those found in the placebo group (mean reduction 6 beats/min). Conclusion: These data show that adding H 2 blockers to H 1 antagonists results in additional improvement of certain cutaneous outcomes for patients presenting with acute allergic syndromes. These findings favor the recommendation for using combined H 1 and H 2 antihistamines in acute allergic syndromes. [Lin RY, Curry A, Pesola GR, Knight RJ, Lee H-S, Bakalchuk L, Tenenbaum C, Westfal RE. Improved outcomes in patients with acute allergic syndromes who are treated with combined H 1 and H 2 antagonists. Ann Emerg Med. November 2000;36:462-468.]

Background: Emergency department visits for acute allergic reactions are common. Although the diagnosis and classification of these allergic reactions is primarily empiric, it is not always clear whether certain signs and symptoms constitute systemic mediator release syndromes, such as anaphylaxis, and thus may warrant more aggressive therapy or follow-up. Objective: We sought to determine associations between various clinical signs and symptoms with both plasma histamine levels and serum tryptase levels in adult patients presenting to an emergency department with acute allergic syndromes. The clinical correlates of raised β-tryptase levels were also investigated. Methods: Ninety-seven adult emergency department patients were prospectively studied by using a questionnaire, physical examination, and serum-plasma sampling. Plasma histamine and serum total and β-tryptase levels were determined. Clinical groupings were compared for mediator levels by using simple and multivariate analysis. Results: Elevated levels of plasma histamine (>10 nmol/L) and serum total tryptase (>15 ng/mL) were observed in 42 and 20 patients, respectively. Detectable β-tryptase (≥1 ng/mL) was observed in 23 patients, including 15 of the patients with elevated total tryptase levels. Suspected food allergy incidences and the duration of reaction were similar in patients with increased histamine levels and in patients with increased tryptase levels. Increased total tryptase levels, histamine levels, or both were observed in some patients who did not have airway, cardiovascular, or abdominal signs. Histamine levels correlated better with clinical signs than tryptase levels. Histamine elevations (>10 nmol/L) were observed more frequently in patients characterized by the following clinical signs in univariate analysis: the presence of urticaria, more extensive erythema, abnormal abdominal findings, and wheezing. Total tryptase increases were observed more frequently only in patients with urticaria. Histamine levels correlated with initial heart rates. In multivariate analysis the extent of urticaria was the best single predictor of plasma histamine levels and of either an elevated histamine or tryptase level. Detectable β-tryptase levels were observed in some patients who had neither elevated total tryptase nor elevated histamine levels. Unlike patients without detectable β-tryptase levels, patients who had detectable β-tryptase levels had a significant correlation between total tryptase and histamine levels ( P Conclusions: Raised histamine and, less commonly, raised tryptase levels are observed in almost 50% of patients presenting to emergency departments with acute allergic reactions. Some cases associated with systemic mediator release do not have classical features of severe anaphylaxis, such as hypotension or tachycardia. The lack of total tryptase elevations in many patients with elevated plasma histamine levels suggests basophil involvement. The clinical utility of β-tryptase determinations in the evaluation of acute allergic reactions needs further study. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;106:65-71.)

Background We had previously observed that changes in nasal cytology were associated with specific clinical patterns in cross-sectional studies of allergy clinic patients. In the present study, we sought to determine whether specific cytologic changes occurred with antiinflammatory therapy in a controlled setting in a prospective manner. Objective To examine changes in nasal leukocytes and epithelial cells associated with topical beclomethasone treatment in allergic rhinitis patients. Specifically we tested the hypothesis that number of nasal leukocytes relative to epithelial cell numbers are altered by topical beclomethasone treatment. Methods Adult volunteers (n=26) with symptoms consistent with allergic rhinitis and positive aeroallergen skin tests were enrolled for treatment with either beclomethasone or placebo nasal spray. Sprays were allocated in a double-blind manner and were prescribed to be administered over a 2-week period. Baseline quality of life, nasal cytograms, and mucosal physical appearance scores were obtained at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. Changes in various nasal leukocytes and epithelial cell types were analyzed for association with active treatment using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results Total leukocytes showed greater decreases with beclomethasone treatment than with placebo. Total epithelial cells on the other hand showed an increase with active treatment compared with placebo treatment. In multivariate analysis, the changes in both total leukocytes and total epithelial cells showed independent associations with beclomethasone treatment. Combining these two variables into a single leukocyte per epithelial ratio resulted in variable with values showing a significant decreases associated with beclomethasone treatment compared with placebo treatment ( P = .03). Conclusions The administration of topical corticosteroids results in decreases in total leukocytes and this decrease is of enhanced significance when adjusted for the quantities of associated epithelial cells. Further investigation relating to the quantities of total nasal leukocytes in inflammatory nasal diseases may be helpful in gauging disease activity and monitoring treatment modalities.

Study objective: Corticosteroids are thought to exert their physiologic effects in asthma over the course of several hours. In this study we tested the hypothesis that intravenous methylprednisolone improves airflow in a shorter time frame (2 hours) in adults with acute asthma. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 56 adult asthmatic patients with peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs) less than 50% predicted after an initial albuterol aerosol treatment were studied. These patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either 125 mg of intravenous methylprednisolone or an equivalent volume of normal saline solution (placebo). Patients were also treated with identical schedules of nebulized ipratropium and albuterol. Patients were recruited from an emergency department at an urban academic medical center. The primary endpoints were changes in PEFR and in percent predicted PEFR over time. PEFRs were assessed at baseline and at 1 and 2 hours. Heart rate changes over time and the proportion of admissions in the 2 groups were also compared. Results: The increases in PEFR and percent predicted PEFR over time were both significantly greater in the methylprednisolone treatment group ( P =.002 and P =.005, respectively). The increases in geometric mean peak flow at 60 and 120 minutes were 79 and 96 L/min for the methylprednisolone group and 54 and 68 L/min for the placebo group. There was also a significantly different change in heart rates with time between the methylprednisolone and placebo groups ( P =.029), with the placebo group showing a moderate increase in heart rate over time. Although the proportion of patients admitted for status asthmaticus was less in the methylprednisolone treatment group (8/30) compared with the placebo group (10/26), this difference in proportions (–.118, 95% confidence interval –.363 to .127) was not significant. Conclusion: These data suggest that use of corticosteroids should be considered relatively early in the treatment of patients with acute asthma in whom initial bronchodilator therapy fails to produce an adequate response. [Lin RY, Pesola GR, Bakalchuk L, Heyl GT, Dow AM, Tenenbaum C, Curry A, Westfal RE: Rapid improvement of peak flow in asthmatic patients treated with parenteral methylprednisolone in the emergency department: A randomized controlled study. Ann Emerg Med May 1999;33:487-494.]

Study objectives: To compare bronchodilation, chronotropic effects, and side effects of the same dose of nebulized albuterol when given by either intermittent or continuous administration. Design: A randomized assignment of patients to one of the two methods of albuterol nebulization. Setting: Adult emergency department in an urban public hospital. Type of participants: Adult patients with acute exacerbations of asthma. Interventions: Administration of 30 mg albuterol given over 110 minutes by either continuous or intermittent aerosolization. Measurements: FEV 1 , forced vital capacity, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured immediately before treatment and then hourly for two hours. Side effects, symptoms, subsequent admission, and discharge also were noted. Main results: An overall significant decrease in heart rate was observed, indicating the lack of significant chronotropic effects with this dose of albuterol. Both treatments resulted in significant spirometric improvement without a significant treatment difference for the entire group. A difference, however, was found in the relative rates of FEV 1 improvement with the two treatments depending on whether patients had an initial FEV 1 less than or more than 50% predicted ( P = .05). A secondary analysis on patients with an initial FEV 1 less than percent predicted demonstrated a higher rate of percent predicted FEV 1 increase with the continuously nebulized albuterol group ( P = .03). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that albuterol can be given safely at this dose by either intermittent or continuous nebulization. Future studies should examine whether continuous nebulization has a reproducible advantage over intermittent nebulization in patients with more severe obstruction.

To study the feasibility of using high-dose continuously aerosolized albuterol aerosol in adults, seven adult asthmatic patients were treated eight times with 0.4 mg/kg/h albuterol delivered by continuous nebulization over 4 h. One patient withdrew at 3 h after supraventricular tachycardia developed. This subsided promptly on discontinuing albuterol therapy. Heart rate increases were observed in six of eight treatments and serum albuterol levels at the end of treatment were greater than 25.0 ng/ml in all but one treatment. A mean increase in heart rate of 16.3 percent was observed for the entire group. Of the treatments with elevated (> 25.0 ng/ml) serum albuterol levels, a significant cumulative increase in heart rate was observed with time. A significant improvement of FEV1 was observed (p = 0.0025) with a net increase of 36.8 percent. These data suggest that high-dose continuously aerosolized albuterol treatment in some adult asthmatics can result in markedly elevated serum albuterol levels and potential cardiac stimulation despite spirometric improvement.

Anaphylaxis incidence rates and time trends in the United States have been reported using different data sources and selection methods. Larger studies using diagnostic coding have inherent limitations in sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, smaller studies using chart reviews, including reports from single institutions, have better case characterization but suffer from reduced external validity due to their restricted nature. Increasing anaphylaxis hospitalization rates since the 1990s have been reported abroad. However, we report no significant overall increase in the United States. There have been several reports of increasing anaphylaxis rates in northern populations in the United States, especially in younger people, lending support to the suggestion that higher anaphylaxis rates occur at higher latitudes. We analyzed anaphylaxis hospitalization rates in comparably sized northern (New York) and southern (Florida) states and found significant time trend differences based on age. This suggests that the relationship of latitude to anaphylaxis incidence is complex.

The incidence and pattern of delirium recorded in a broad spectrum of American hospitalizations has not been well described. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project is an administrative database of hospitalizations in the US that affords an opportunity to examine for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9) codes relating to delirium. To examine the prevalence of delirium diagnoses and associated clinical factors, including adverse drug effects, in a broad spectrum of hospitalizations in the US. Delirium was grouped into three categories: drug-induced delirium, dementia-associated delirium, and non-dementia, non-drug (NDND). Hospitalizations during the years 1998–2005 in the NIS databases were examined. These databases represent samples of hospitalizations that allow for national prevalence estimates. ICD-9 codes for drug-induced, dementia-associated and NDND delirium were identified in the hospitalizations for each year. Delirium tremens was not considered in this classification, and paediatric and psychiatric admissions were excluded. Yearly prevalence for drug-induced, dementia-associated and NDND delirium were tabulated, and time trends were analysed with negative binomial regression. A hospitalization subset cohort with urinary tract/kidney infection, pneumonia, heart failure and lower extremity orthopaedic surgery diagnosis-related group categories was also analysed for clinical associations with the presence of the three categories of delirium using multinomial logistic regression. ICD-9 E codes (external causes of injury) constituting adverse drug effects were identified and considered as clinical predictors. Delirium was recorded in 1 269 185 (0.54%) non-psychiatric adult hospitalizations during the study years. Whereas the overall prevalence of dementia-associated delirium and NDND delirium decreased over time, drug-induced delirium prevalence increased (p

Background Anaphylaxis associated with omalizumab treatment is a growing concern. The broader context in which omalizumab-associated allergic reactions occur has not been well described. Objective To identify and characterize recently reported anaphylactic reactions associated with omalizumab administration. Methods The US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System reports between January 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, were queried for new reactions primarily suspected to be due to omalizumab. Reaction characteristics were analyzed for a reaction descriptor of anaphylactic or anaphylactoid shock or reaction and for dermal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal reaction descriptor terms that in combination could be interpreted as constituting anaphylaxis. Associated narratives for these reports were obtained and were examined further. Results There were 85 cases with an anaphylaxis descriptor and 33 cases without a descriptor of anaphylaxis but with multisystem allergic reactions (mostly respiratory and skin or mucosal) that were consistent with anaphylaxis. Of these 118 cases, 32 were after the first dose and 14 were after the second dose of omalizumab. Seventy-seven of the 118 cases were categorized as requiring hospital admission or prolongation, had life-threatening reactions, underwent treatment with epinephrine or corticosteroids, or had omalizumab treatment withheld or discontinued. Nineteen of the 118 reactions were described as occurring within 1 hour of omalizumab injection. Conclusions Allergic reactions to omalizumab continue to be reported. Some patients not labeled as having anaphylaxis have multisystem allergic reactions consistent with anaphylaxis, raising questions about the adequacy of the Food and Drug Administration categorizations. The characteristics of these patient reports point toward a spectrum of systemic allergic reactions associated with omalizumab use.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to define the incidence, economic impact, and nature of adverse drug effects (ADEs) related to antibiotics in pneumonia hospitalizations in the US. METHODS: Adult pneumonia hospitalizations were tabulated in statewide (New York) and national databases, respectively, from 2000 through 2005. The incidences of antibiotic related ADEs were determined by identifying antibiotic specific e-codes (external cause of injury codes). The modeled effect of the presence of antibiotic ADEs on length of stay (LOS) and total charges were also calculated. ADEs due to specific antibiotic classes, and the presence of certain cutaneous allergic and gastro-intestinal manifestations commonly attributable to ADEs, were tabulated. RESULTS: ADEs related to antibiotics were reported in a small but consistent proportion (0.45–0.6%) of pneumonia hospitalizations in both cohorts. The most common identifiable antibiotics class associated with ADEs was the cephalosporins followed by penicillins and quinolones. Over 60% of the ADEs were associated with reported dermal/allergic and gastro-intestinal manifestations. Multivariate analysis adjusting for co-morbid conditions and demographic factors showed that the presence of an antibiotic adverse drug effect was a significant independent predictor of greater LOS and higher total hospital charges. CONCLUSIONS: ADEs related to antibiotics can be identified by analyzing administrative hospitalization databases. For pneumonia, a common hospitalization diagnosis, there is a defined calculable impact and incidence of antibiotic associated adverse effects. This should be considered in planning hospitalization resource allocation and in developing equitable hospitalization reimbursements. Identifying the nature of antibiotic associated adverse effects may facilitate the development of stratagies for reducing these adverse effects. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:E7–E15. © 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.

The present study describes the cardiovascular responses to epinephrine (Epi) given into the arm, in adult patients with acute allergic reactions, and the differential responses to subcutaneous (SC) and intramuscular (IM) administration. Sixty-three adult patients were treated with Epi administered SC or IM after H1 and H2 receptor blockade. Heart rate and blood pressure (BP) were then measured for 20 minutes. Changes in heart rate and BP variables were analyzed. Pulse pressure and systolic BP showed increases with time. Diastolic BP also showed a modestly decreasing values over time. Heart rates did not change. Time-related changes between IM and SC Epi treatment were not observed. Sex influenced timed BP values and a significant sex by time effect was observed. In subset analysis, only male patients showed an overall time effect for BP variables, especially pulse pressure. In conclusion, adults with acute allergic syndromes treated with arm-injected Epi show a modest but definite increase in pulse pressure and systolic BP. This pattern is observed more in males. Heart rate and blood pressure differences between IM and SC arm-injected Epi treatments do not appear to be significant.

Molds have been linked epidemiologically to asthma as a key aeroallergen in several studies. Other allergens such as cockroach have been linked to asthma in New York City (NYC). To our knowledge, however, the pattern of mold hypersensitivity has never been examined systematically in the NYC area. Thus, we sought to determine the association between mold hypersensitivity and asthma in a large group of ambulatory patients evaluated for allergic disease for the years 1993 through 2001 at a single medical center. Serological testing for mold-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) as well as IgE specific for other aeroallergens was performed and the associations between allergen-specific IgE and the presence of asthma were examined using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Factor analysis showed that three distinct groupings of aeroallergen-specific IgE existed within the panel of allergens used. Group 1 consisted of cat dander and dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae). Group 2 consisted of tree, grass, and ragweed pollen. Group 3 consisted of the Deuteromycetes molds, Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cladosporium herbarum. Patients with asthma had a highly significant increase in the incidence of hypersensitivity to cat/dust mites and to the molds. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of hypersensitivity to either A. tenuis or C. herbarum had a significant independent association with asthma after adjustment for cat/dust mite hypersensitivity and after adjustment for other clinical factors. On the other hand, pollen hypersensitivity was not associated independently with asthma. Mold hypersensitivity was strongly correlated with hypersensitivity to cat or dust mites in patients who did not have asthma but not in patients who did have asthma. In the NYC area, recent pollen and spore counts show that mold spores are measurable in at least 75% of the year. Thus it is conceivable that mold hypersensitivity plays a contributing and independent role in initiating or perpetuating the allergic response in patients with asthma in the New York area.

Testing for tree pollen hypersensitivity typically requires the use of several tree pollens. Identifying patterns of cross-sensitivity to tree pollens could reduce the number of trees used for testing. The goal of this study was to relate reported tree pollen levels to hypersensitivity patterns. Three hundred seventy-one allergy patients were tested serologically for hypersensitivity toward prevalent tree pollens in the surrounding New York area over the years 1993-2000. Specific tree pollens that were examined included oak (Quercus alba), birch (Betula verrucosa), beech (Fagus grandifolia), poplar (Populus deltoides), maple (Acer negundo), ash (Fraxinus americana), hickory (Carya pecan), and elm (Ulmus americana). Statistical analysis of the levels of hypersensitivity was performed to identify correlations and grouping factors. Pollen levels, obtained from published annual pollen and spore reports, were characterized and related to the prevalence of hypersensitivity for the various trees. The highest prevalence of hypersensitivity (scoreor = class 1) was for oak (34.3%), birch (32.9%), and maple (32.8%) tree pollens. Lower prevalences were observed for beech (29.6%), hickory (27.1%), ash (26%), elm (24.6%), and poplar (20.6%) trees. Significant correlations were observed between oak, birch, and beech radioallergosorbent test scores. Factor analysis identified two independent pollen groups with oak, birch, and beech consisting of one group and the other five tree pollens constituting the other group. Peak pollen counts clearly were highest for oak, birch, and maple trees. The peak pollen counts corresponded roughly to seropositivity prevalences for the tree pollens. When elm, poplar, and beech test scores were not used to identify patients who were allergic to tree pollens, only 1 of 106 patients with any positive tree radioallergosorbent test score was missed. It is concluded that in the New York City area, hypersensitivity to tree pollens most often is manifested with allergy to oak, birch, and maple tree pollens. Identifying beech, poplar, and elm hypersensitivity adds little toward identifying patients who are allergic to tree pollens. This may relate in part to cross-reactive epitopes. These data suggest that these three trees can be eliminated from testing with only a1% loss of sensitivity.

Background Elevations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) have been described in drug-induced anaphylaxis. Although IL-6 is well known to stimulate an acute phase response, profiling acute phase protein levels, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), has, to our knowledge, never been performed in patients with acute allergic reactions. Objective To examine the pattern of IL-6 and CRP levels in patients with acute allergic reactions and to relate these to relevant clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods Plasma CRP and serum IL-6 levels were determined in 85 adult emergency department patients. These patients had been previously studied with questionnaires, physical examinations, and histamine/tryptase levels. Clinical and historical features were related to CRP and IL-6 levels. CRP and IL-6 levels were also examined for relationships with histamine and tryptase levels. Results CRP and IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with one another in the study patients (Spearman ρ = 0.36, P = 0.0008). Similar to histamine levels, IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with the extent of erythema manifested by the study patients. The extent of erythema was independently predicted by both IL-6 and histamine levels. Histamine levels were negatively correlated with CRP levels (Spearman ρ = −0.32, P = 0.003). Unlike histamine levels, IL-6 and CRP did not show significant relationships with the extent or presence of urticaria/angioedema or the presence of wheezing. IL-6 levels were correlated with the duration of symptoms before serologic sampling. An inverse correlation was observed between IL-6 levels and mean arterial blood pressure. Multivariate modeling showed significant independent effects from mean arterial pressure, duration of symptoms, erythema extent, and age in predicting IL-6 levels. Tryptase levels were higher in patients whose IL-6 levels were >20 pg/mL. Conclusions CRP and IL-6 levels are not simple surrogate markers for histamine or tryptase release by mast cells or basophils in acute allergic reactions. Increasing IL-6 levels relate to greater erythema extent, lower mean arterial blood pressure, and a longer duration of symptoms. It would be interesting to speculate that CRP and IL-6 increases characterize a late-phase response in immediate hypersensitivity reactions. In this perspective, the inverse relationship between CRP and histamine levels could be explained. As histamine levels are waning, CRP levels are increasing. Timed studies for histamine and CRP/IL-6 levels in allergic reactions are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

To identify characteristics associated with mortality in HIV-infected patients with bacteremia, 88 bacteremic episodes in 80 HIV-infected patients were prospectively identified over a 5-month period and observed for 30 days. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data were collected. Mean and median age was 41 years. Most study subjects were homosexual men. Median CD4 count was 20 cells/mm3. Gram-positive organisms predominated (65%). The most common source of bacteremia was intravascular catheters (45%). Overall mortality was 30%. A history of malignancy, three or more opportunistic infections, shock, low hemoglobin, source of bacteremia other than an intravascular catheter, resistance to therapy, and a second bacteremic episode during the study period, were all found to be independent predictors of mortality. In this cohort of HIV-infected patients, most of whom were severely immunosuppressed, several factors were found to be significantly and independently associated with mortality.

Background Nasal cytograms are useful in evaluating patients with inflammatory disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses. When mucosal samples are taken with curette and brush devices, significant numbers of non-leukocytic cells can also be analyzed. Objective To examine two specific morphologic variations in granule-containing epithelial cells in nasal samples obtained from allergy clinic patients and describe their clinical associations. These two cellular variants consisted of goblet cells, with coalesced granules usually displacing the nucleus, and discrete granular mucinous cells (DGMC), which show more discrete granules not displacing the nucleus. Methods Patients from an adult allergy clinic were studied prospectively for nasal mucosal cytology, historical clinical data, nasal physical findings, serum IgE levels, and aeroallergen-specific IgE. Proportions and absolute numbers of goblet cells and DGMC in the nasal mucosal samples were related to other data using simple and multivariate analyses. Results Both goblet cells and DGMC showed absolute number increases in patients with observable nasal secretions. Discrete granular mucinous cell decreases were also observed in patients with IgE levels greater than or equal to 200 IU/mL and in asthmatic patients. In non-asthmatic patients with nasal eosinophilia, a significantly greater proportion of DGMC was observed compared with other patients (19.8 +/− 11.9% versus 8.5 +/− 5.9%, P = .007), while asthmatics with nasal eosinophilia had mean DGMC quantities closer to that observed in patients without nasal eosinophilia. Increases in goblet cell numbers were observed in patients with specific IgE to aeroallergens compared with other patients (46.5 +/− 46.7 versus 27.0 +/− 23.9, P = .014). Multivariate analysis confirmed that (1) the presence of aeroallergen-specific IgE and (2) the presence of nasal eosinophilia in the absence of asthma were differentially associated with increases in goblet cells and DGMC, respectively. Conclusions Increases in nasal DGMC and goblet cells differentially relate to specific clinical patterns of nasal cellular inflammation and aeroallergen hypersensitivity. The nasal epithelial cell profile associated with nasal eosinophilia in asthmatics may differ from that observed in non-asthmatic nasal eosinophilia.

Study objective: The use of nebulized ipratropium in combination with β-agonists for the treatment of acute asthma in adults is controversial. We wished to test the hypothesis that combined aerosol treatment results in a greater rate of airflow improvement and a lower proportion of hospital admission in adults with acute asthma. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 55 adult asthmatic patients with peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) less than 200 L/min were randomly assigned to nebulization treatment with albuterol alone (2.5 mg initial dose followed by 2 more doses at 20-minute intervals), or the same albuterol regimen plus ipratropium (.5 mg combined with the initial dose of albuterol only). Patients were recruited from an emergency department at an urban academic medical center. The primary endpoints were changes in PEFR and in percent predicted PEFR over time (ie, treatment by time effect). PEFRs were assessed at baseline and at 20-minute intervals for a 1-hour period. The proportion of admissions in the two groups were examined as secondary endpoints. Results: The increases in PEFR and percent predicted PEFR over time were both significantly greater in the combined ipratropium plus albuterol treatment group ( P ≤.001). In addition, the proportion of admitted patients was less in this group (3/27) than the proportion in the albuterol-only group (10/28). The 95% confidence interval for the absolute difference of 25% in the proportion admitted was 3% to 46%, P =.03. Most of the baseline clinical and historical features in the two groups were similar. Conclusion: These data suggest that ipratropium should be combined with initial albuterol nebulization in the ED treatment of acute asthma in adults, especially those with PEFRs less than 200 L/min. [Lin RY, Pesola GR, Bakalchuk L, Morgan JP, Heyl GT, Freyberg CW, Cataquet D, Westfal RE: Superiority of ipratropium plus albuterol over albuterol alone in the emergency department management of adult asthma: A randomized clinical trial. Ann Emerg Med February 1998;31:208-213.]

Patients with HIV infection often have nasopharyngeal symptoms related to inflammatory or infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In this study, we examined specific nasal mucosal cytologic alterations in adult patients with HIV infection for associations with nasopharyngeal symptoms and other clinical parameters. Mucosal cytology was obtained in 62 patients from an urban HIV clinic using a plastic curettelike probe. The quantities of goblet cells, vacuolated cells, and leukocytes were determined and analyzed for associations with various clinical aspects of these patients and specifically with the presence or absence of prolonged (> 2-week duration) nasopharyngeal symptoms. Goblet cell, but not vacuolated cell, increases were observed in samples in which nasal eosinophilia was present and in samples obtained from April to October without specific associations with nasopharyngeal symptoms or histories of atopic disease. A history of allergic rhinitis or recent upper respiratory infection was significantly associated with increased proportions and total numbers of epithelial cells that showed vacuolization. In patients with prolonged nasopharyngeal symptoms, significantly higher numbers of nasal leukocytes were observed but higher proportions of vacuolated cells were not. Scores of tests for abnormal physical findings in the nose were higher for patients with prolonged nasopharyngeal symptoms than for those without. Peripheral blood CD4 concentrations, gender, nasal substance abuse history, and other comorbidities did not influence either vacuolated cell or goblet cell quantities. These data show that prolonged nasopharyngeal symptoms in HIV infection are associated with a certain nasal cellular pattern. It is conceivable that this pattern relates to recurrent or prolonged nasal inflammation secondary to upper respiratory infection.

To test the hypothesis that early parenteral corticosteroid administration may be associated with a rapid improvement in airflow obstruction in adult asthmatic patients, a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study was carried out. Forty-five adult asthmatic patients, with initial peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs) of < 200 L/sec received an intravenous bolus of either 125 mg methylprednisolone (MP) or normal saline before any other emergency department treatments. This was immediately followed by 3 aerosol treatments of 2.5 mg of albuterol separated by 20-minute intervals. PEFRs and heart rates were measured over a 1-hour time frame. There was not a significantly higher rate of increase of PEFR in the MP group compared with the saline group. Similarly, the rate of increase in percent PEFR showed a trend to being higher in the saline group (P = .061). There was no significant difference in the proportion of hospitalizations and side effects between the two groups. Adjustment for other variables did not result in a model showing an enhanced PEFR improvement with MP treatment. This study does not support the concept that corticosteroid treatment effects are beneficial within the first hour after administration. Further studies of rapid-acting modalities to enhance bronchodilation are needed in treating acute asthmatics.

The presence of eosinophils in nasal secretions often characterizes inflammatory disease in the nose and paranasal sinuses. This study analyzed differential associations between various clinical parameters and the presence of nasal eosinophilia in mucosal specimens obtained by two sampling methods (swab and curette-probe). Nasal mucosal secretions were obtained in patients attending an adult allergy clinic using both sampling methods for each patient. The presence of eosinophilia as determined by both methods had significant associations with 1) nasal mucosal pallor, 2) younger age, and 3) the presence of basophilic cells. To examine diagnostic characteristics of the two sampling methods of determining eosinophilia as a characteristic of allergic rhinitis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were evaluated for patients categorized as having allergic rhinitis on the basis of elevated aero-allergen specific IgE, and rhinitis based on either a) significant nasal mucosal appearance abnormalities, or b) a referring physician's diagnosis of rhinitis. The curette-probe determined nasal eosinophil quantitations had greater areas under the ROC curves when rhinitis was defined on the basis of mucosal appearance. On the other hand, the swab determined eosinophil quantitations had greater ROC curve areas when rhinitis was defined on the basis of referring diagnosis. In summary, nasal eosinophilia determined by curette or swab sampling has differences in strengths of their clinical associations.

Summary A 42-year-old man developed persistent urticaria and angio-oedema responsive to systemic steroids. A skin biopsy revealed leucocytoclastic vasculitis. C4 levels were consistently decreased in the setting of a mildly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Pulmonary function studies revealed a restrictive pattern, and there was eosinophilia in bronchial lavage fluid. Antibody to hepatitis C virus was positive, and there was mild elevation of serum aminotransferase. We believe that this case represents another possible manifestation of immunological disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

To investigate the rheologic changes and circulatory abnormalities at the microvascular level during severe sepsis.Prospective, controlled trial.Medical and surgical intensive care units of a university-affiliated hospital.Nine normal controls and eight adult patients with severe sepsis who met the study entrance criteria.Forearm blood flow was measured at rest and during reactive hyperemia by air plethysmography. Simultaneous hemodynamic measurements and blood samples for rheologic measurements were taken.Red blood cell deformability index was determined using a simple filtration procedure. Leukocyte aggregation in whole human blood was detected by using a leukergy test. Expression of the neutrophil adhesion molecule CD11b/CD18 was measured using a monoclonal antibody and flow cytometry. All data were taken within 24 hrs of the patient meeting criteria for entrance into the study. Cardiac output, oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption measurements were consistent with the hyperdynamic phase of severe sepsis. Forearm blood flow was significantly (p.05) greater in septic patients (21 +/- 3 mL/min) than in controls (12 +/- 2 to 36 +/- 5 mL/min (p.05), while in the septic patients, forearm blood flow during reactive hyperemia increased from 21 +/- 3 to 32 +/- 4 mL/min. The ratio of forearm blood flow during reactive hyperemia to forearm blood flow at rest was 3.2 +/- 0.1 in the controls and 1.6 +/- 0.1 in the septic patients (p.01). The red blood cell deformability index in whole blood was significantly (p.01) decreased in the septic patients compared with the control subjects (0.41 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.98 +/- 0.08 mL/min). This difference remained true when the hematocrit was adjusted to 45% (0.82 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.04 +/- 0.06 mL/min; p.05). Increased expression of the neutrophil adhesion molecule CD11b/CD18 was observed in septic patients (349 +/- 46 logarithmic fluorescence units) as compared with control subjects (233 +/- 26 logarithmic fluorescence units; p.05). Leukergy was also significantly (p.05) increased in septic patients (17.7 +/- 3.8%) as compared with control subjects (8.9 +/- 1.6%). A significant correlation was observed between leukergy and the expression of the neutrophil adhesion molecule CD11b/CD18 in controls and septic patients (r2 = .62; p.01). Leukergy was also inversely correlated with whole blood red blood cell deformability index (r2 = .28; p.05).Reactive hyperemia in the forearm is significantly diminished in patients with sepsis, suggesting impaired microvascular blood flow. Rheologic changes, including impaired red blood cell deformability, increased leukocyte aggregation, and endothelial adherence, may contribute to this abnormality by compromising effective capillary cross-sectional area.

Forty-four adult patients with acute asthma were treated with albuterol at a rate of 15 mg/h over 2 h. Analysis of covariance showed a significantly higher baseline adjusted mean for both percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (PFEV1) (p = 0.045) and percent predicted forced vital capacity (PFVC) (p = 0.022) at 50 and 110 min for the patients who reported triamcinolone use. Although heart rates decreased overall during the first hour of albuterol treatment, a rise in mean heart rate occurred during the second hour of treatment only in patients reporting triamcinolone use (p = 0.005). After accounting for the effects of parenteral corticosteroids, the effect of reported triamcinolone use remained significant. These data suggest that use of inhaled corticosteroids in this context may be associated with enhanced local and systemic beta-responsiveness, and if a causal relationship could be confirmed, this may constitute yet another advantage of early inhaled corticosteroid treatment in asthma. These data also suggest that chronotropic effects of high-dose albuterol should be monitored in patients using inhaled triamcinolone.

Forty subjects consisting of (i) patients with septic shock, (ii) patients with sepsis without shock, (iii) critically ill non-septic patients, and (iv) normal controls were studied for plasma C3, C4, factor B, iC3b, C4d, Bb, and SC5b-9 levels in an attempt to profile the pattern of complement activation in sepsis. Significant decreases in plasma C3 and C4 concentrations were observed in septic shock patients compared to normal as well as to critically ill subjects. When adjusted for illness severity, levels of C3 but not C4 showed significant differences between septic shock and critically ill patients. Concentrations of the complement metabolite Bb as well as the Bb to factor B ratio were significantly increased in septic shock patients. SC5b-9 levels were significantly higher in septic shock patients compared to normal as well as to critically ill subjects. No increases in C4d or iC3b were observed, but the iC3b to C3 ratio was higher in septic shock patients compared to that in normal subjects. In septic shock patients, there were significant correlations between SC5b-9 and Bb (P = 0.0213) concentrations and between C3 and Factor B concentrations (P = 0.0041). SC5b-9 levels also were correlated with lactate levels in septic shock patients (P = 0.0091). These findings demonstrate a metabolite pattern consistent with primarily alternative and terminal pathway activation in septic shock patients. Decreases in C4, a classical pathway component, may not be specific for septic shock and do not appear to be necessarily due to significant complement consumption/activation.

To assess the effect of oral candidiasis (OC) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at initial hospital admission on both survival and hospital use, a retrospective analysis was performed in 1,172 hospitalized patients identified by an HIV surveillance program at an inner city public hospital in East Harlem, New York. Survival times were compared using three different HIV staging schemes placing patients with OC into either a common stage with adenopathy patients (Scheme IHS-URV), a common stage with acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients (AIDS; Scheme WRCDC), or an intermediate stage between AIDS patients and all others (Scheme ORAL). Patients without AIDS demonstrated a significantly increased risk of dying (relative risk, 2.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69, 4.03) if they were initially admitted with OC. Survival times for different stages of disease showed the best between-stage distinction for a Scheme ORAL, with the OC stage having a median survival of 643 days. Mean days of hospitalization also showed best distinctions for Scheme ORAL. Other staging schemes did not distinguish patients as well in terms of both survival times or mean hospitalization days. HIV-infected patients admitted with OC but without AIDS had a discrete survival prognosis and hospitalization course. Therefore, presence of OC even without other immunologic data has implications for institutional resource allocation and planning. These data support, in this context, a separate clinical designation for OC patients.

Background Angioedema may occur in patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. With the more prevalent use of this class of medications in the United States, it is not known whether angioedema hospitalizations have increased nationally in recent years. Objectives To profile the trends in angioedema hospitalizations and to examine associated demographic factors and comorbid diseases in the United States. Methods A national database of hospitalizations in the United States was queried for hospitalizations with a principal diagnosis of angioedema and other major acute allergic disorders (anaphylaxis, urticaria, and allergy unspecified). Subsequent analysis was performed to determine the current angioedema hospitalization trends (1998-2005) and to examine clinical and demographic variables that distinguished angioedema from the other allergic disease admissions. Results The angioedema hospitalization rate was 3.3 in 100,000 in 1998 and rose to 4.0 in 100,000 in 2005. In contrast, the combined hospitalization rate for nonangioedema allergic disorders showed an overall decline and was exceeded by angioedema hospitalization rates after 2000. African American patients had consistently higher hospitalization rates (≥2 times) for angioedema compared with non-African American patients. Hypertension, increasing age, and African American ethnicity were associated with angioedema hospitalizations. Twenty-four percent of hospitalizations for angioedema were coded for an adverse effect due to cardiovascular or antihypertensive agents. Conclusions Angioedema has become the dominant allergic disorder that results in hospitalization in the United States. Angioedema hospitalizations have a distinct epidemiologic pattern that differs from that observed in other atopic disease hospitalizations.

In vivo reticuloendothelial Fc receptor function was studied in 14 individuals. To assess this function Tc-99m-labeled IgG-coated autologous erythrocytes were injected intravenously and circulatory clearance rates of radioactivity were determined. In 12 individuals [6 normals and 6 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)], kinetic computerized scintigraphic imaging of various internal organs was compared to circulatory clearance rates. Both circulatory clearance rates and percentage splenic uptake (PSU) were significantly depressed in patients. The difference between patients and normals was more significant for PSU than for circulatory clearance. Splenic uptake curves showed significantly less linearity for patients, suggesting that splenic defects in SLE are not only quantitative, but also are qualitative. Understanding the nature of immune clearance defects in immune complex mediated diseases may allow for a more rational approach to treatment of patients with these disorders.

Six patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were treated with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin. Immunological parameters were studied and included solid-phase immune complex determinations, quantitative immunoglobulins G, A, and M, as well as C3 and C4 concentrations. Pretreatment values of circulating immune complex concentrations as measured by either C1q binding or anti-C3 binding assays were elevated in all patients. Posttreatment values showed reductions in all C1q binding immune complexes (p

A total of 36 intravenous drug abusers (IVDA) were studied for circulating immune complexes (CIC) and serum soluble CD8 antigen (sCD8). None had symptoms or signs of AIDS-related complex or AIDS. sCD8 levels were significantly higher in 18 patients who had HIV antibody (Ab) compared with 18 patients who were HIV Ab negative (1640 +/- 578 virus 804 +/- 264 U/ml, p less than 0.0001). In HIV Ab+ patients but not in HIV Ab- patients, sCD8 levels significantly correlated with percentages and absolute numbers of activated CD3+DR+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p = 0.0024 and 0.0183, respectively). Also in HIV Ab+ patients, CIC levels were significantly greater for both anti-C3 binding (13.1 +/- 11.1 versus 2.9 +/- 3.4 micrograms/ml, p = 0.002) and C1q binding (23.5 +/- 20.2 versus 6.3 +/- 4.3 micrograms/ml, p = 0.001) CIC. Serum C4 concentrations were lower in the HIV Ab+ patient group (33.9 +/- 10.1 versus 41.6 +/- 12.4 mg/dL, p = 0.043). In the seropositive group, IgG levels were higher (2206 +/- 859 versus 1615 +/- 645 mg/dl) and total CD4 cell counts were lower (757 +/- 344 versus 1172 +/- 402 cells per mm3), but at a less significant level (p = 0.024 and 0.005, respectively), than that seen for sCD8 and C1q CIC differences. These results suggest that elevations of both the lymphocyte activation marker sCD8 and antigen nonspecific CIC characterize earlier stages of HIV infection in IVDA.

Utilizing a panel of immune complex assays, antigen-antibody complex formation in a 29-year-old man shortly after a spider bite was documented. The clinical picture and laboratory parameters were consistent with a serum sickness reaction. Immune hyperactivity was evidenced by a detectable autoimmune serological response. This constellation of findings may be a common attendant to arthropod envenomation.

In vivo immune clearance of immunoglobulin G sensitized autologous erythrocytes (rbc) was studied in nine patients who fulfilled American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Opsonized rbc were radiolabelled with technetium 99. The rate of radioactive blood clearance was measured, as was organ-specific radioactive uptake utilizing area-of-interest (AOI) measurements in a computerized scintigraphic imaging system. It was shown that dynamic quantitation of an AOI corresponding to the heart generated time-activity curves which approximated blood-clearance curves. Calculation of first order clearance (min per 50% decrease in counts) showed a highly significant correlation between rates derived from heart AOI curves and those derived from blood-clearance curves (r = 0.9483, P = 0.0003). Clearance curves showed a monoexponential slope in most patients. Further exploration of organ-specific AOI curves showed that percent splenic uptake and the nature of the splenic uptake curves varied between patients. These studies point toward a variable splenic role in Fc receptor function for SLE patients and further demonstrate the utility of nuclear imaging in studying immune clearance.

A 35-year-old Black male with a long history of intravenous drug abuse developed clinical manifestations of Reiter’s syndrome, with significant joint and psoriasiform skin involvement. In addition, he had signs and symptoms compatible with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and had a positive HIV antibody test confirmed with Western blot testing. Although many dermatologic manifestations of HIV infection have been described, this is the first time that an association with Reiter’s syndrome has been reported. Recently, the development of psoriasis in other patients with HIV infection has been described. Taken together, these occurrences suggest that the purported retroviral relationship with psoriasis and related dermatoses may warrant further examination.