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Background Pimecrolimus cream 1% has been shown to effectively control atopic eczema (AE) when applied twice daily from the first signs or symptoms of AE until clearance. Moreover, pimecrolimus cream 1% has a favourable safety profile, lacking topical corticosteroid-related side-effects such as skin atrophy, making it particularly useful to treat delicate body regions (e.g. the face). Objective The objective of this naturalistic study was to monitor the safety, tolerability and efficacy of pimecrolimus when used in the long-term management of AE in a real-life setting. Methods A multicentre, open-label study was conducted in 2034 patients aged ≥ 3 months with mild to moderate AE for up to 12 months’ duration. Patients applied pimecrolimus cream twice daily, initiating treatment at first signs or symptoms of AE, continuing until clearance. Results Patients ( n= 1847; 91%) completed 3 months of the study. Treatment success (clear or almost clear AE) after 3 months of treatment was observed on the whole body in 59% of patients and on the face in 81% of patients. Disease improvement of whole body and face was seen in 77% and 63% of patients, respectively. Pruritus was absent or mild in 79% of patients. Pimecrolimus cream was well tolerated throughout the study. Conclusion In a daily practice setting, pimecrolimus cream 1% effectively and safely controls AE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of loratadine on pruritus in patients with atopic dermatitis, considering the patients' sensation of itch. Sixteen patients, mean age 24.8 years, with moderate or severe atopic dermatitis were included in a double-blind and placebo-controlled study with a six-period, multi-crossover design. The patients were given 10 mg loratadine or placebo every day, alternating between loratadine and placebo every 2 weeks. The degree of pruritus during the day and during the night was recorded by the patients every morning and every evening, respectively, on a 10-cm visual analog scale. The study detected a significant effect of loratadine, as compared with placebo, on pruritus during the day, pruritus during the night, and severity of rash. At least nine of the 16 patients included were classified as responders and only one as a nonresponder to loratadine treatment. It is concluded that loratadine may be tried as an adjuvant therapy in the management of severe and moderate atopic dermatitis, in patients complaining of pruritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of proteins cross-reacting with allergens in hen's egg white was studied in turkey, duck, goose and seagull egg whites, in hen egg yolk, and in hen and chicken sera and flesh. The study was based upon quantitative immunoelectrophoretic techniques. The different egg whites were all found to contain proteins cross-reacting with most of the allergens in hen's egg white, but the degree of cross-reactivity varied considerably among the various egg whites. All egg whites contained proteins able to bind human IgE-antibody in the sera of patients with allergy to hen's egg white. Several proteins cross-reacting with allergens in hen's egg white were also detected in egg yolk and in hen and chicken sera and flesh. Clinical implications of the results are discussed.

Antigen 22 (ag-22) in hen's egg white, previously shown to be one of the major allergens in the egg white, was partially purified by combining biochemical separation techniques and quantitative immunoelectrophoretic methods. The molecular weight of ag-22 was found to be approximately 78,000 using analytical ultracentrifugation and pI was determined to be 6.1, which is appropriate with the values of ovotransferrin. It was concluded that ag-22 is identical with ovotransferrin. The ability of ovotransferrin to react in the human IgE-system was demonstrated in vivo and in vitro, by means of skin prick tests and crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis.

Different subgroups of egg-allergic patients were established according to differences in allergic symptoms provoked by hen's egg white, total IgE-level, RAST (radioallergosorbent test) results to egg white, and age. In each group the pattern of specific IgE-antibodies to individual allergens in the egg white, determined by means of crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE), was compared with the pattern in a control group. The RAST value to egg white was found to exert the strongest influence on the CRIE results. A few statistically significant differences in CRIE results to certain allergens were also observed in other pairs of subgroups of egg-allergic patients. Possible explanations for this are discussed. It was concluded that CRIE studies of allergens in mixed protein solutions, using a series of sera from allergic patients, will most probably give the same results and the same classification of the allergens independent of the characteristics of the patients from which the sera were collected. However, it should be emphasized that the CRIE series must include a sufficient number of patients with high RAST values to the allergen in question. Otherwise some allergens may be missed and the classification of the allergens may be different.

Allergens in hen's egg white were studied in crossed radio-immunoelectrophoresis (CRIE). Specific IgE-antibodies against different proteins in the egg white were examined in sera from 70 atopic patients with clinical hypersensitivity, and RAST greater than or equal to 2 to egg white. Ovalbumin, ovomucoid and an unidentified protein, antigen 22, were classified as major allergens. Specific IgE-antibodies against 10 more proteins in hen's egg white were detected. IgE-antibodies against lysozyme could not be detected.