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Background: In Mexico, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and immunotherapy with hymenoptera venom (VIT) is traditionally practiced combining aspects of the European and American school. In addition, both types of extracts (European and American) are commercially available in Mexico. Moreover, for an adequate AIT/VIT a timely diagnosis is crucial. Therefore, there is a need for a widely accepted, up-to-date national immunotherapy guideline that covers diagnostic issues, indications, dosage, mechanisms, adverse effects and future expectations of AIT (GUIMIT 2019). Method: With nationwide groups of allergists participating, including delegates from postgraduate training-programs in Allergy/Immunology-forming, the guideline document was developed according to the ADAPTE methodology: the immunotherapy guidelines from European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology, The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology were selected as mother guidelines, as they received the highest AGREE-II score among international guidelines available; their evidence conforms the scientific basis for this document. Results: GUIMIT emanates strong or weak (suggestions) recommendations about practical issues directly related to in vivo or in vitro diagnosis of IgE mediated allergic diseases and the preparation and application of AIT/VIT and its adverse effects. GUIMIT finishes with a perspective on AIT modalities for the future. All the statements were discussed and voted on until > 80 % consensus was reached. Conclusion: A wide and diverse group of AIT/VIT experts issued transculturized, evidence-based recommendations and reached consensus that might improve and standardize AIT practice in Mexico.

Background: Many studies in children had identified risk factors associated with partly or uncontrolled asthma. In adults, factors related to asthma control were not well defined. Objective: To find the factors related to partly or uncontrolled asthma in adults. Methods: Asthmatic adults who had severity at least in the mild persistent level, were recruited. The asthma control levels were classified as controlled, partly controlled and uncontrolled according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guideline. Risk factors were compared between the patients with controlled and partly controlled/ uncontrolled asthma groups. Results: two hundred (75.5 % females) were included. The mean age was 38.4 ± 11.93 years old. There were 100 patients (50 %) in the controlled and 100 patients (50 %) in partly controlled and uncontrolled asthma group. For asthma severity, 35 patients (88.2 %) were in mild persistent, 14 patients (10 %) in moderate persistent and 97 patients (1.8 %) in severe persistent groups. The absence of stress yielded an OR = 0.41 (95 % CI = 0.23-0.75), p = 0.03. While active smoking, OR = 4.23 (95 % CI = 1.35-13.2), p = 0.007. Patients who have no contact with stuffed animals or rugs have OR = 0.4 (IC 95 % = 0.2-0.79). It was important the result of the patients that if they correctly use their inhalers OR = 0.36 (IC 95 % = 0.13-0.97), p = 0.031. Conclusions: Current and active smoking and atopic dermatitis are risk factors. As a protective factor to the normal levels of eosinophils in blood, correct use of inhalers, FEV1 > 80 %, the absence of stress and the absence of contact with carpets and stuffed animals.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has a longstanding history and still remains the only disease-changing treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma. Over the years 2 different schools have developed their strategies: the United States (US) and the European. Allergen extracts available in these regions are adapted to local practice. In other parts of the world, extracts from both regions and local ones are commercialized, as in Mexico. Here, local experts developed a national AIT guideline (GUIMIT 2019) searching for compromises between both schools. Methods: Using ADAPTE methodology for transculturizing guidelines and AGREE-II for evaluating guideline quality, GUIMIT selected 3 high-quality Main Reference Guidelines (MRGs): the European Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (EAACI) guideines, the S2k guideline of various German-speaking medical societies (2014), and the US Practice Parameters on Allergen Immunotherapy 2011. We formulated clinical questions and based responses on the fused evidence available in the MRGs, combined with local possibilities, patient's preference, and costs. We came across several issues on which the MRGs disagreed. These are presented here along with arguments of GUIMIT members to resolve them. GUIMIT (for a complete English version, see Supplementary data) concluded the following: Results: Related to the diagnosis of IgE-mediated respiratory allergy, apart from skin prick testing complementary tests (challenges, in vitro testing and molecular such as species-specific allergens) might be useful in selected cases to inform AIT composition. AIT is indicated in allergic rhinitis and suggested in allergic asthma (once controlled) and IgE-mediated atopic dermatitis. Concerning the correct subcutaneous AIT dose for compounding vials according to the US school: dosing tables and formula are given; up to 4 non-related allergens can be mixed, refraining from mixing high with low protease extracts. When using European extracts: the manufacturer's indications should be followed; in multi-allergic patients 2 simultaneous injections can be given (100% consensus); mixing is discouraged. In Mexico only allergoid tablets are available; based on doses used in all sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) publications referenced in MRGs, GUIMIT suggests a probable effective dose related to subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) might be: 50–200% of the monthly SCIT dose given daily, maximum mixing 4 allergens. Also, a table with practical suggestions on non-evidence-existing issues, developed with a simplified Delphi method, is added. Finally, dissemination and implementation of guidelines is briefly discussed, explaining how we used online tools for this in Mexico. Conclusions: Countries where European and American AIT extracts are available should adjust AIT according to which school is followed.

Tuberculosis has increased all over the world. This paper reports the case of a male patient with tuberculous meningitis, spinal tuberculosis (Pott’s disease) and severe adverse reactions to antituberculosis drugs. He had skin rash, hepatitis, eosinophilia and fever; all these signs make the diagnosis of DRESS syndrome. This syndrome is caused by a severe hypersensitivity reaction to different drugs. It is usually caused by anticonvulsants, sulfonamides and some antiviral drugs, among other drugs. Anti-tuberculosis drugs can also cause this potentially fatal syndrome. The importance of surveillance for early detection and treatment of adverse drug reactions is emphasized.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a slowly progressive disease, caused by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus hypersensitivity when it is found in the airway. It usually affects asthmatics and patients with cystic brosis. We report the case of a 20-year-old male patient, student, farmer and rancher with chronic respiratory disease. The diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis was made on the basis of the clinical symptoms and complementary studies.