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A letter to the editor is presented about the use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in patients who are sensitive to nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Background: A considerable number of pollen-allergic patients develops allergy to plant foods, which has been attributed to cross-reactivity between food and pollen allergens. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences among pollen-allergic patients with and without plant food allergy. Methods: Eight hundred and six patients were recruited from 8 different hospitals. Each clinical research group included 100 patients (50 plant food-allergic patients and 50 pollen-allergic patients). Diagnosis of pollen allergy was based on typical case history of pollen allergy and positive skin prick tests. Diagnosis of plant-food allergy was based on clear history of plant-food allergy, skin prick tests and/or plant-food challenge tests. A panel of 28 purified allergens from pollens and/or plant foods was used to quantify specific IgE (ADVIA-Centaur® platform). Results: Six hundred and sixty eight patients (83%) of the 806 evaluated had pollen allergy: 396 patients with pollen allergy alone and 272 patients with associated food and pollen allergies. A comparison of both groups showed a statistically significant increase in the food and pollen allergy subgroup in frequency of: (1) asthma (47 vs. 59%; p < 0.001); (2) positive skin test results to several pollens: Plantago,Platanus,Artemisia,Betula,Parietaria and Salsola (p < 0.001); (3) sensitization to purified allergens: Pru p 3, profilin, Pla a 1 – Pla a 2, Sal k 1, PR-10 proteins and Len c 1. Conclusion: Results showed relevant and significant differences between both groups of pollen-allergic patients depending on whether or not they suffered from plant-derived food allergy. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduces a series of articles devoted to basic and clinical aspects of allergy to olive pollen. Mechanisms of allergic reactions; Tolerance to olive pollen sensitization; Symptomatology of olive pollen allergy.

The article focuses on allergic contact dermatitis to etofenamate and cross-reaction to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Most patients who have etofenamate contact dermatitis showed tolerance to NSAID non-structurally related to etofenamate. The paper also discusses the treatment and management of the disease.

The article presents a case study of a 28-year-old non-atopic nurse with two episodes of pruritic red wheals with surrounding erythema and associated swelling of her hands and forearms that occurred immediately after crushing donepezil, zolpidem and omeprazole tablets at work. Several tests were performed with the drugs administered to her patient with Alzheimer's disease.