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Allergy to fur animals is becoming an increasingly common clinical problem in everyday medical practice. Depending on the route of exposure to the allergen, patients present with many, often non-specific symptoms. The most common illnesses among people with allergies to the above-mentioned allergens are as follows: allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic bronchial asthma, food allergy, allergic contact dermatitis, and sometimes anaphylactic shock. In recent years, there has been a change in the holistic approach to the treatment of allergy patients. The method of treatment should be tailored to a specific patient, taking into account his or her predispositions, economic possibilities, and therapeutic goals. The article describes the main methods of treating allergies, focusing primarily on allergies to fur animals. Allergy treatment always requires great care, and qualification for specific types of therapy should be preceded by a thorough and accurate diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food consumption is the second most common cause of anaphylaxis among adults. There have been reported cases after eating seafood, which the most popular are shrimps. The most common allergen of shrimp is tropomyosin. A 22 years-old female experienced dyspnoea, edema of lips, tongue, eyelids and generalized urticaria with pruritus after eating bread with shrimp paste. Also, for 4 years, the patient has symptoms of rhinitis with conjunctivitis during spring and summer months and after eating unprepared apples, nectarines, hazelnuts and walnuts experiences itching of the lips, tongue and throat. The patients provided the results of specific IgE tests which showed positive results for pollen of birch, alder, rye, timothy grass, epidermis of dog, cat, horse, rabbit, egg yolk, shrimp and Alternaria alternata. During the diagnosis, skin prick tests with extracts of food and inhalant allergens were performed. A positive result was for the allergen extract from cat fur, grass mixture, rye, alder, birch, hazel and shrimp. We also established the level of IgE specific to allergen components using the ImmunoCap ISAC method. Allergen-specific IgE was elevated for the shrimp allergen Pen m 4 (sarcoplasmic calcium binding protein), allergens of timothy grass, bermuda grass, birch and cat, as well as cross-reacting allergens of alder, hazel, apple, peach, soy and peanuts. Considering the overall clinical picture the patient was diagnosed with a shrimp allergy and seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to birch and grasses. The patient was advised to exclude seafood from her diet and provided with adrenaline, steroids and antihistamines. According to our current knowledge, this is the first reported case of anaphylaxis after eating shrimp caused by allergy to Pen m 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosing allergies is not always easy. Sometimes the symptoms reported by the patient do not match the results of diagnostic tests. Diagnostics of IgE-dependent allergy, including allergy to furry animals, can be based on two basic strategies, "BOTTOM-UP" and "TOP-DOWN", and almost all available allergy tests can be used ranging from skin tests, through specific IgE, to molecular panels and challenge tests. Currently, most information regarding the diagnosis and incidence of allergies to furry animals focuses almost exclusively on the two most common pets—dogs and cats. This is certainly due to the fact that allergy to cats and/or dogs is a common phenomenon, has a huge impact on quality of life, and is a challenge for doctors of many specialties. However, the growing number of owners of other pet species means that diagnostic methods must keep up with the changing needs of patients. Further research in these groups will certainly provide new facts and facilitate clinical decision-making when working with allergic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of domestication of animals allowed for a change in the way of human life. Farm animals provided easy and relatively constant access to milk, meat, leather and wool. Farm animals are also increasingly used as pets and companions. Unfortunately, the appearance of animals in the human environment has also provided contact with new allergens. Allergy to fur animals has become a significant problem in the practice of an allergist. At present, it is a relatively common form of allergy and affects both adults and children. In the second part of the review of fur allergens, approved by the WHO/IUIS Subcommittee on allergen nomenclature, the allergens of rabbit, domestic cattle, horse, donkey, pig, goat and sheep were characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furry animals, such as dogs and cats, are permanently settled in our homes. Many people cannot imagine life without their favorite pet. Unfortunately, the appearance of animals in the human environment is associated with exposure to numerous allergens. Allergy to fur animals is currently a relatively common form of sensitization and affects both adults and children. The possibility of diagnosing sensitization to specific proteins that are found in animal secretions and knowledge about the biological role of these allergens allows patients to give more detailed and adequate recommendations. However, the correct interpretation of sensitization to allergen components is still a challenge for the clinician. In the first part of the review the allergens (accepted by the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Committee) of dog, cat, guinea pig, jungle hamster, Syrian hamster, house mouse and rat were characterized. The review article presents a compendium of information about the known allergens, which, we hope, will prove useful in the daily work of an allergist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is mainly empirical and is based on the assessment of symptom severity and the experience of clinicians. Patients with mild disease can be treated symptomatically, while patients with more severe symptoms or malabsorption symptoms require more aggressive therapy. So far, several therapeutic options have been proposed, including the following: dietary treatment, glucocorticosteroids, inhibitors of leukotriene receptors, mast cell stabilizers, immunomodulating drugs, and biological drugs. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of well-designed, prospective. and randomized clinical trials involving large groups of patients with EGE and assessing the effectiveness of individual treatments. More research is needed to compare the efficacy and safety profiles of the various treatments available, and to select the prognostic factors of relapse, which in turn will be extremely important in making decisions about the initial treatment phase and maintenance therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a relatively rare disease, but it should be considered whenever a patient presents with unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms that cannot be explained by parasitic infection or other gastrointestinal diseases characterized by eosinophilic infiltration. A high coexistence of EGE and allergic diseases has been documented. Diagnosis of EGE is based primarily on clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological findings. Glucocorticosteroids and other immunomodulatory drugs are the mainstay of treatment, but currently the greatest hope lies in biological drugs, which are undergoing intensive research. This disease is troublesome for the patient and significantly reduces the quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for causing the COVID-19 disease, which affected 174 million people worldwide. After vaccines were launched, the focus was on their effectiveness and the degree of their safety. Aim: The authors try to find factors that may affect the response to vaccination. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 47 adults (39 women and 8 men; age: 47.3 ±11.2). Participants were vaccinated with two doses of the Comirnaty mRNA vaccine. Each patient had a medical history taken and the concentration of specific sIgG antibodies against S1 protein and SARS-CoV-2 N protein, as well as of selected cytokines (IL-8, TGF-β, IFN-g) was determined before and 3 weeks after the first and second dose of the vaccine. Results: There were 18 convalescents among the respondents. A statistically significant increase in the concentration of specific sIgG S1 in subsequent determinations was observed. Higher levels of sIgG S1 were found after the first dose of the vaccine in COVID-19 convalescents. There was no statistically significant influence of age, body mass index and sex on the increase in the concentration of antibodies and the concentration of the determined cytokines. It was shown that the higher the initial TGF-β concentration, the greater the increase in sIgG S1 after administration of the vaccine. Conclusions: Vaccination did not increase the levels of IL-8, IFN-g and TGF-β. A higher concentration of serum TGF-β before vaccination correlated with the higher concentration of sIgG S1 antibodies after the first dose of the vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant advances in diagnostic methods, sepsis is still a current medical problem, and its complications contribute to increased mortality among different age groups. The article presents the case of a 71-year-old man who developed an inflammatory aneurysm of the abdominal aorta in the course of sepsis of Salmonella spp. etiology, followed by its rupture. The case confirms that we must not forget about rare, especially unusual complications, which may depend on the type of microorganism. Properly quick diagnosis allowed for the implementation of appropriate treatment and survival of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary Immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are more common than we think. The most common PNO, is isolated IgA deficiency, occurs in the Caucasian population with a frequency of 1:500. These deficiencies are the result of one or more parts of the immune system missing, weakened or not working properly. Allergy also results from an abnormality in the immune system, so it is assumed to be associated with Primary Immunodeficiencies. It has been shown that allergies are more common in patients with PID, and it has been proven that allergy symptoms may precede or even mask symptoms of PID, making diagnosis difficult, which is associated with a delay in the correct diagnosis of deficiency and a worse prognosis for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic cross-reactions are a common clinical problem. They are a challenge for both scientists and clinicians working on a daily basis with patients. The current development of molecular biology has allowed for a more precise definition of reactions and mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of allergic cross-reactions. Recent years have also strengthened the importance of specific immunotherapy in the treatment of inhalation allergies, but we still have no conclusiv evidence of their effectiveness and safety in the case of symptoms arising in connection with cross-reactions. In this article, the authors try to explain the basic mechanisms of allergic cross-reactions and methods of treating the symptoms associated with them, especially in the light of the popularity of specific immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a special type of anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions develop only when food is consumed with a cofactor. Cofactor of the reaction are exercise, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol and infection. The frequency of FDEIA is different in the geographical area of the word. The pathogenesis of food- dependent anaphylaxis induced by exercise or other cofactors is not fully understood. In this case, the cause may be increased permeability of the gastrointestinal epithelium and greater bioavailability of allergens, or an increase in plasma osmolality during physical activity. In practice, every allergic reaction can be amplified by cofactors. There are allergens, such as ω-5-gliadin, lipid transport proteins, and tropomyosin, for which their role seems to be particularly important. In many cases of FDEIA, the allergen causing the reaction is not identified. The gold standard for diagnosing food allergy is the oral challenge test. In the case of FDEIA, conducting them is a challenge due to the need to introduce a cofactor into the test. It is necessary to explain to the patient the nature of FDEIA and the allergens that sensitize him. The most important thing is to completely avoid eating foods that trigger reactions 4 hours before and 2 hours after exercise. Biological drugs may become a new treatment method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergy to soy is still a big diagnostic and therapeutic problem. It seems that this problem will not lose its significance in the coming years, because soy proteins, mainly due to their prevalence and unique amino acid composition, are still extremely popular in food production, processing and breeding. Allergy to soy is most often manifested clinically as gastrointestinal symptoms, but other ailments are not uncommon. Despite the availability of many diagnostic methods, the diagnosis of soy allergy is not easy. A double-blind placebo-controlled oral provocation test remains the gold standard. However, the future certainly belongs to the molecular methods that allow to assess the sensitivity to specific allergen components, which opens up new possibilities both in predicting the course of natural disease and its treatment, and also in identifying patients at the highest risk of severe anaphylactic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical case described below is a challenge for doctors of many specialties. A young woman suffering from an oncological disease, a severe form of atopic dermatitis, a multi-serious allergy and, additionally, bronchial asthma is a patient who requires careful medical, nursing and psychological care. The variable picture of the disease basically excluded the patient from everyday, normal functioning. In-depth allergological diagnostics allowed for introducing safe products into the patient's diet and avoiding severe anaphylactic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved recognition of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) is associated with an increase in life expectancy and a higher incidence of complications and related conditions. The aim of the study was to analyze factors enabling the primary prevention: BMI, smoking and selected laboratory tests (morphology with smear, creatinine, eGFR, total protein, albumin, ferritin, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D3) included in the protocols of standard of care for adult patients with primary antibody deficiencies (PADs). The study included 94 participants ≥ 18 years old, diagnosed with PADs. Overweight was found in 17%, obesity in 14% and underweight in 15% of patients; 11.5% of patients smoked. Leukopenia was diagnosed in 16%, neutropenia in 8.5%, lymphopenia in 22.5% and thrombocytopenia in 14% of patients. A decreased concentration of hemoglobin was found in 32%, total protein in 19%, albumin in 17%, vitamin D3 in 52%, vitamin B12 in 6.5%, folic acid in 34% and ferritin in 26% of patients. Creatinine concentrations were elevated in 16% of patients, while in 20%, eGFR was reduced. Only a holistic assessment of comorbidities and complications of deficiency, as well as regular follow-up and lifestyle changes, can yield the best results in the long-term care of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are antibody deficiencies (PADs), and not all of them are rare diseases; As an example, Caucasian individuals suffer from selective IgA deficiency at a frequency of 1:500. In addition to infections, symptomatic patients with PAD are more likely to develop neoplastic, autoimmune, and allergic diseases. In the event that PAD is neglected or delayed for more than ten years, complications develop, eventually resulting in death. No studies have been conducted to devise and report detailed ready-to-use protocols for managing PAD to date. This study aimed to propose protocols and guidelines for the adult PAD patients' standard care. Preparing the protocol, we considered the frequency and type of laboratory tests, imaging, endoscopic examinations, specialist consultations, and standardized recommendations for further care in the place of residence.  As a result of the proposed monitoring scheme, patients can be provided with complete care in terms of their underlying conditions and comorbidities, as well as early detection of complications. This protocol will serve as a guide for physicians dealing with these patients and enable comparisons of patient groups across a variety of treatment centers, even far away from each other. A national consultant in the field of clinical immunology verified the protocol mainly developed by Polish experts from reference immunology centres for adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial edema is undoubtedly a symptom that causes both the patient and the doctor to be afraid of severe consequences that can even lead to death. Often, the underlying cause of the disease is unexplained, patients are struggling with relapses, and doctors remain helpless. Therefore, detailed diagnostics is important, which will explain the causes and protect against the consequences of the ailment. The following case report presents another, extremely rare cause of face edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]