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Atopic dermatitis is a skin inflammatory disease, which is associated to high levels of IgE, eosinophiles and change of T lymphocytes.To determine if the treatment with transfer factor for moderate atopic dermatitis decreases the number of inflammatory cells in the peripheral blood.We selected twenty patients with diagnosis of moderate atopic dermatitis. The age range of the patients was between 5 and 45 years old. Patients were assigned to one of three groups: group A included patients with atopic dermatitis treated with transfer factor: one unit a day for five days, two units a week, one unit a week, one unit every fifteen days and one unit a month. Group B included ten patients with atopic dermatitis who received conventional treatment (hydroxyzine 10 mg/24 h) and the group C was conformed by healthy controls. All patients were submitted to basal and final determination of IgE, peripheral blood eosinophils, and underpopulation of lymphocytes by flow cytometry. Study period was of ten weeks.Levels of IgE were reduced respect to the basal value. In the patients of group A there was an increase in neutrophils and leukocytes after treatment; however, it was not significant (p = 0.46). Eosinophils were significantly reduced (p = 0.01). After comparing group A to group C the p value was of 0.035.In patients with atopic dermatitis, after 10 weeks of treatment with transfer factor, the level of IgE and peripheral eosinophils was reduced.

Epidemiologically there is an association between allergic rhinitis and asthma due to a common inflammatory process. Asthma can affect 40% of the patients with rhinitis and 80% of asthmatics present rhinitis. The relationship between the two diseases is explained by the term of "a united airway". Some patients with allergic rhinitis have nonspecific bronchial hyper-responsiveness, specially during the exacerbation stage. These patients have a unique physiologic characteristic that differs from the asthmatic and healthy subjects developing bronchoconstriction not related to clinical bronchospasm, therefore, allergic rhinitis is considered a risk factor for the asthma development.To determine if there is bronchial hyper-responsiveness in patients with allergic and not allergic rhinitis, by correlating with the eosinophilia in nasal mucosa.We studied a total of 32 patients with an age range from 18 to 38 years, of both sexes (11 men and 17 women) of the Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo Lopez Mateos, ISSSTE. They were submitted to clinical history, laboratory studies (blood count cell, serum IgE levels, eosinophils of nasal mucosa), roentgenograms (paranasal sinus and esophagus-gastroduodenal series) and allergy skin tests with 32 allergens. It was taken biopsy of nasal mucosa for the search of eosinophils and it was carried out bronchial challenge with distilled water. Twenty-eight patients concluded the study, they were divided in two groups: a group of 15 patients with diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and another group of 13 patients with diagnosis of non allergic rhinitis.Fifty-six spirometry studies were performed and only 4 patients (26.6%) with diagnosis of allergic rhinitis presented fall of the FEV1 in the bronchial challenge in comparison with the group of non allergic rhinitis in which there were no changes in the FEV1 later to the bronchial challenge. This difference was statistically significant (-4.3 and 0.15, respectively with a p0.0370, CI 95%). Moreover, only in the group of allergic rhinitis eosinophils were found in the biopsy of nasal mucosa (93.3%).Nonspecific bronchial hyper-responsiveness is present in patients with allergic rhinitis. The presence of nasal eosinophils is a persistent inflammation parameter suggesting the allergic origin in these patients.

The atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease with immunological alterations, neuro-immune-endocrine implications and repercussions in the psyche.To determine the effectiveness of the use of psychological support in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.This study included 20 patients (from 15 to 50 years old) with moderated and severe atopic dermatitis based on the Hanifin and Rafka modified criteria. They were classified in three groups of treatment: A) 10 patients with transfer factor and psychological support, B) 10 with transference factor without psychological support, C) 10 healthy individuals as a control group. At the beginning and ending of the analysis the degree of severity of the illness was determined using the SCORAD scale.There was a more statistically significant clinical improvement on group A than in group B, besides a decrease in anxiety and depression, at a laboratory level including hormonal behavior, without meaningful changes.It was demonstrated that the treatment with immune-modulator and psychological support on the moderated and severe atopic dermatitis improves the clinical and immunological evolution of this illness.

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory dysfunction in whose physiopathology the lymphocytes T play an important role in the regulation of the inflammatory process.To determine and to characterize the role of apoptosis of lymphocytes in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis before and after treatment with transfer factor.Fifteen patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in a range of age from 5 to 45 were included in the study. Fifteen healthy subjects were taken as a control group. In all subjects it was determined the apoptosis of the lymphocytes by means of annexin and TUNEL techniques, as well as the expression of CD95 cells. The 15 patients with atopic dermatitis received treatment with transfer factor in stepped dose as follows: 1 U/day/5 doses, 1 U/week/3 doses, 1 U/15 days/2 doses, 1 U/30 days, until completing three months. At the end of this period new determinations were done to measure apoptosis of lymphocytes and PMN. At the beginning and at the end assessments of the severity in relation to the scale SCORAD were made.By means of both techniques no significant difference was found in the percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes between patients and control subjects. Differences of the expression of CD95 between patients and control subjects before and after treatment were not significant. There was a significant difference (p0.01) of severity from the beginning to the end of treatment with transfer factor in patients with atopic dermatitis.No significant differences of apoptosis of lymphocytes were found in patients with atopic dermatitis who received treatment and control subjects, neither before not after the treatment with transfer factor. It was verified the decrease in the severity of the symptoms related to the treatment with transfer factor.

Nowadays, the gastroesophageal reflux is a predisposing factor for the development of asthmatic attacks.To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in pediatric patients with asthma of the Service of Allergy and Immunology at the Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos.It was made an observational study from July 2000 to July 2001. Gastroesophageal gammagraphic and endoscopy (with taking of esophageal biopsy) were carried out to each of the patients in order to find out if there was gastroesophageal reflux.112 patients with moderate persistent asthma (54 women and 58 men) were included and divided in three different age groups (group I, from 1 to 5 years old; group II, from 6 to 10 and III, from 11 to 16 years old). The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux was 138, 100 and 93, respectively, being specially high in males. Differences in the prevalence among different groups were statistically significant between group I and II (p0.001) and between I and III (p0.001). Significant changes were not observed between group II and III (p = NS).The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux the structured was high, situation directly related with the diagnostic suspicion in our asthmatic population.

Exercise-induced asthma is defined as the transient broncho-spasm, that occurs after 3 to 8 minutes of continuous exercise; one of two mechanisms are implicated: the first is given by a hyper-osmolar environment interchange with the warm respiratory air and the water loss, the second due to reactive hyperemia or bronchial blood vessels edema.To determine the effectiveness and safety of Zafirlukast treatment in exercise induce asthma, and in mild and moderated persistent bronchial asthma. Evaluate the security with laboratory test IL-2, IL-4, INFg, and CD69, to determinate TH1 and Th2 cells, laboratory and thorax x-ray determinations before and after zafirlukast treatment in exercise induce asthma, plus the functional respiratory test, and assert the clinical and adverse reaction with Zafirlukast.A open, prospective, longitudinal study. Challenge test on a treadmill for 8 minutes. Twenty patients from the Allergy Service at Lic. Adolfo López Mateos Hospital, ISSSTE, in México City, fifteen female and five males. Aged 15 to 35 years. There was a control group of ten healthy subjects with similar age and sex. The drug Zafirlukast was administered 20 mg twice a day for eight weeks, with patient's informed and signed consent. Laboratory test: Blood Cell count, transaminases, bilirubins A, G, M and E immunoglobulins thorax X-ray, electrocardiogram, functional respiratory test before and after treatment.Zafirlukast blocked exercise induced asthma in the early and late phases. There was a statistically significant improvement of a VEF-1 after exercise with a p0.001; furthermore, there was significant improvement in the mid-spiratory speed before the exercise with a p0.05. The mid-spiratory speed after the exercise, improved (p0.01). There were no collateral reactions, such as Churg-Strauss, only transitory headache in six and nauseas in two. There were no statistically significant changes in the cytokines assessment.There were no statistically significant changes in the cytokines assessments, in four cases the IL-4 decreased after the treatment. The anti-leukotriene improved the bronchospastic answer during the early and late phases, reducing the FEV-1, decreasing the recovering phase.

To evaluate the efficiency of zafirlukast in patients with aspirin-induced-asthma trough a measurement of VEF1, during the treatment and the symptoms daily reported. To evaluate the safety of treatment through a record of adversed events and laboratory and cabinet monitoring, to know the effect of zafirlukast on urine LTE4 level.It was an open, controlled, prospective, longitudinal, observational study. Twenty patients with aspirin-induced asthma were included and 10 extrinsic asthma patients as a group control. On the aspirin-induced asthma, age range was between 28-82 years old patients with an average of 55. 17 female and three male and group control with demographic similar features. All patients were included in a 30 days wash period avoiding anti-inflammatory medication like steroids, cromons, etc., on the initial phase treatment. A determination of blood cell count, transaminases, bilirubins, immunoglobulins, GAME, electrocardiogram, thorax study and LTE4 urine analysis was carried out. Twice a day 20 mg. zafirlukast dosis was administered to both groups, VO, during eight weeks. A symptoms report diary was given to each of the patients. A weekly and beginning sphirometric was carried out along the study to determine VEF1. Same laboratory and cabinet variables were determined on the final checking.17 patients from the study group were analyzed and 10 from control group, an improvement of 12% average was reported on final VEF1, in comparison to the basal for both groups (p.001) having this relation with the clinic improvement in the diary symptoms report. LTE4 urine levels diminished in similar form on both groups. This reduction was important (p.001). Just three limited slight cephalalgia cases were reported (7.9%).Asthmatic patients belonging to extrinsic or aspirin-induced asthma groups irrespectively showed an improvement from zafirlukast treatment on spirometric and clinic levels. No serious disadvantage was found associated to zafirlukast and side effects were slight after two months. In LTE4 level drop was found in urine, in possible relation with zafirlukast, interruption on the pulmonary chronic inflammatory process.

Although various mechanisms involving antibodies and various cell types participate, a Thl and Th2 cells imbalance seems to play a central role for allergy development. Other lymphocyte subpopulations, such as Th17, CD4 FOXP3, and Th9 positive regulatory T lymphocytes may also be involved in the allergic response. Regulatory processes are an appealing target for therapeutic approaches aiming to solve allergic reactions by restoring the delicate balance within the immune system. Transfer factor (TF) or dialyzable leukocyte extract is meant to transfer cell-mediated immunity from immune competent donors to unsensitized or deficient recipients. A PubMed search on the current knowledge on TF indicates that TF may restore the Th1/Th2 balance and improve immune regulatory mechanisms of patients receiving it. Our preliminary results demonstrate that TF induces mRNA expression of IFN-g, osteopontin, RANTES, and hBD-2 in human healthy subjects. TF has been used to treat a variety of immune dysfunction related-pathologies, such as allergy, autoimmunity, immunodeficiencies, infectious diseases and tumors. Patients receiving TF together with their conventional treatment often have better clinical evolution than without it, as we have witnessed, adding TF to the usual medical treatment of allergic diseases as an attempt to provide allergic patients with those regulatory elements that they apparently lack but require to achieve properly regulated immune responses and thus obtain a faster and better resolution of allergic reactions.