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Month: June 2017

Eczema relief: Dupixent approved; Nemolizumab research encouraging

Eczema relief: Dupixent approved; Nemolizumab research encouraging

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has just recently approved the drug Dupixent for treating atopic dermatitis (eczema). It is a human monoclonal antibody (dupilumab) that targets two inflammatory molecules – IL-4 and IL-13 – the main driving forces for the rash and itch that characterize eczema. This drug is intended for people with moderate-to-severe eczema that is not otherwise controlled by antihistamines or topical steroids.

The medicine is administered by subcutaneous injection from a pre-filled syringe. The current recommendation is that initial therapy be done in a doctor’s office, but once safety is established, it can be done at home.

The main side effects reported by the FDA are local injection site reactions, conjunctivitis and eye dryness and activation of oral herpes. Very rarely allergic reactions occurred.

So far, it is only approved for non-pregnant adults. The drug trials demonstrated fairly dramatic results with 40% of participants having complete clearing of their rash within 16 weeks.

Nemolizumab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that is showing real promise in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema). It inactivates Interleukin 31 (an inflammatory molecule associated with the often-intense itch of eczema).

Yellow jacket sting vs risk of immunization — relative

Yellow jacket sting vs risk of immunization — relative

Dear Dr. K:  My father, who is 70, has had two near-fatal anaphylactic reactions to yellow jacket stings. His cardiologist says he shouldn’t see an allergist for venom immune therapy (VIT) because he‘s on a beta-blocker since he had a heart attack. What should I tell him?

Tell him it’s a matter of relative risk and he should see an allergist. This is a complex problem, but not a rare one, so a little explanation will help.

First of all, when studies are done on people who die from insect stings, it is actually more frequent in people over 50. It seems that the anaphylaxis from the sting is more liable to be fatal because of underlying cardio-vascular disease. Your father falls into this category.

When VIT was first introduced in the 1970s the standard recommendation was to not give it to people on beta-blockers. The reason for this is that there is greater risk for a severe reaction to the shot itself as it’s being built up. Keep in mind VIT involves giving the venom that caused anaphylaxis (via the sting) in the first place.

However, as time has passed and more deaths have occurred in untreated patients, this recommendation has been re-thought.

In fact, a number of academic research centers have undertaken controlled trials of VIT in patients on beta-blockers. From their vantage point it has been learned that VIT can be safely done. A large study by the University of Bern found that their patients on beta-blockers had fewer shot reactions than their patients not on beta-blockers, and there were no deaths.

Which brings us back to the concept of relative risk. Your father has much greater risk from the sting than from the shot.

In general, when VIT is done on patients on a beta-blocker a more gradual build-up is followed, thus reducing risk even further.

Guess everything needs a name, But really, EIEI-O and TWIT?

Guess everything needs a name, But really, EIEI-O and TWIT?

By Sasha Klemawesch – 

 

A recent article in the Annals of Emergency Medicine gave me both pause for thought and a good chuckle.

The researchers studied human behavior on escalators and moving airport sidewalks.

They observed that more than 90% of passengers in these conveyances failed to move by stepping or walking, despite having no one in their immediate path. Moreover, they observed fairly frequent startle responses when fellow “travelers” asked to be able to step or walk past.

A small percent of the time (10%), they observed individuals refusing to move over to allow passage. And in 3% of the time, persons actually stuck out their arms and legs to prevent passage.

Researchers named this – wait for it – “Transient Walkway-Induced Torpor (TWIT); and in cases seen on the moving stairways, “Escalator-Induced Extremity Immobility Obstruction (EIEI-O).”

Bet you’ll remember this when you ride your next conveyance.

Peanut allergy protection just got easier: peanut vaccine in a patch

Peanut allergy protection just got easier: peanut vaccine in a patch

A peanut patch vaccine is the newest option being studied for children with severe allergy to

peanuts.

The two types of “vaccine” that have received the greatest study are oral immunotherapy (OIT), and

sublingual immune therapy (SLIT). Both approaches are flawed and thus have not been approved by the

FDA.

Oral therapy provides the best results in terms of vaccine protection against peanut exposure, but it

has an intolerably high frequency of side effects. Sublingual therapy is less prone to side effects, but,

unfortunately, does not provide very good vaccine protection.

The new approach: epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) seems to be the answer. It provides an

excellent level of protection with few side effects.

The peanut extract is administered by a patch worn on the skin. The dosage is gradually increased by

increasing the length of time the patch is in place.

COPD treatment guidelines offered

COPD treatment guidelines offered

The Medical Letter recently published guidelines for treating COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease):

  1. For all COPD patients – Stop smoking.
  2. Patients with mild disease should use a short-acting bronchodilator inhaler as needed: either albuterol (beta agent), or ipatropium (muscarinic agent), or a combination of both (combivent).
  3. Patients with moderate disease should use regular inhaler treatments of a long-acting broncho-dilator – either a beta, muscarinic or combination agent.
  4. Patients with severe disease should add a daily inhaled steroid to step 3 and consider oxygen therapy.
  5. Pulmonary rehab is a vital therapy for all patients with COPD.
Q – Tips: Chlorhexidine

Q – Tips: Chlorhexidine

The FDA has mandated that over-the-counter products containing chlorhexidine gluconate be labeled citing the risks of allergic reactions, including the rare anaphylaxis. Chlorhexidine is used as a topical antiseptic wash but is also found in prescription oral rinses. In medical settings, chlorhexidine is often used as a pre-op scrub or as a cleanser prior to IV or central line placement.

Q – Tips: Fresh Air

Q – Tips: Fresh Air

  • If you must open windows for “fresh air,” a useful trick to avoid allowing pollen into the house is to insert and air-conditioning filter(s) into the opening. Fresh air comes in, but free of mischievous pollen.