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Background: Inadequate efficacy of current intranasal steroids in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is attributable to ineffective and/or inconsistent drug delivery to target anatomic sites. A new exhalation delivery system with fluticasone (EDS‐FLU) may improve outcomes by significantly increasing superior/posterior corticosteroid delivery. A study was conducted to assess the long‐term efficacy and safety outcomes of EDS‐FLU in individuals with CRS. Methods: This was a 12‐month, multicenter, single‐arm study evaluating the safety and efficacy of EDS‐FLU 372 μg twice daily in CRS patients (with [n = 34] or without [n = 189] nasal polyps [NP]). Efficacy assessments by serial nasal endoscopy and patient report included: 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22), NP grade, standardized surgical indicator assessment, Lund‐Kennedy score, and Patient Global Impression of Change. Adverse event (AE) evaluations included nasal endoscopy. Additional safety and efficacy outcomes were assessed. Results: Of 223 patients who received EDS‐FLU, 96% reported prior corticosteroid use and 29% prior sinus surgery. The EDS‐FLU AE profile was similar to conventional intranasal steroids studied in similar populations. Most patients (87%) reported symptom improvement. Through 12 months, mean SNOT‐22 scores improved by −21.5 and −21.1 for CRS with and without NP, respectively. Among patients with NP, 54.2% had polyp elimination in at least 1 nostril and 83.3% had ≥1‐point improvement in polyp grade. Conclusion: Over 1 year of treatment in CRS with and without NP, EDS‐FLU 372 μg twice daily was well tolerated and produced improvements across a broad range of objective and subjective measures. EDS‐FLU may be a desirable new option for patients with this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen allergy has been found in 80–90% of childhood asthmatics and 40–50% of adult-onset asthmatics. Despite the high prevalence of atopy in asthmatics, a causal relationship between the allergic response and asthma has not been clearly established. Pollen grains are too large to penetrate the small airways where asthma occurs. Yet pollen cytoplasmic fragments are respirable and are likely correlated with the asthmatic response in allergic asthmatics. In this review, we outline the mechanism of pollen fragmentation and possible pathophysiology of pollen fragment-induced asthma. Pollen grains rupture within the male flowers and emit cytoplasmic debris when winds or other disturbances disperse the pollen. Peak levels of grass and birch pollen allergens in the atmosphere correlated with the occurrence of moist weather conditions during the flowering period. Thunderstorm asthma epidemics may be triggered by grass pollen rupture in the atmosphere and the entrainment of respirable-sized particles in the outflows of air masses at ground level. Pollen contains nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced) oxidases and bioactive lipid mediators which likely contribute to the inflammatory response. Several studies have examined synergistic effects and enhanced immune response from interaction in the atmosphere, or from co-deposition in the airways, of pollen allergens, endogenous pro-inflammatory agents, and the particulate and gaseous fraction of combustion products. Pollen and fungal fragments also contain compounds that can suppress reactive oxidants and quench free radicals. It is important to know more about how these substances interact to potentially enhance, or even ameliorate, allergic asthma. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency or dysfunction have burdensome recurrent angioedema attacks. The safety, efficacy, and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes of C1 inhibitor (C1‐INH) prophylaxis (intravenously administered) in patients aged 6‐11 years were investigated. Methods: Eligible patients were enrolled in a randomized, single‐blind, crossover, phase 3 trial. After a 12‐week baseline observation period (BOP), patients received 500 or 1000 U C1‐INH, twice weekly, for 12 weeks before crossing over to the alternate dose for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end‐point was the monthly normalized number of angioedema attacks (NNA). HRQoL was assessed using the EuroQoL 5‐dimensional descriptive system youth version and visual analog scale (EQ‐VAS). Results: Twelve randomized patients had a median (range) age of 10.0 (7‐11) years. Mean (SD) percentage reduction in monthly NNA from BOP was 71.1% (27.1%) with 500 U and 84.5% (20.0%) with 1000 U C1‐INH. Mean (SD) within‐patient difference (−0.4 [0.58]) for monthly NNA with both doses was significant (P = 0.035 [90% CI, −0.706 to −0.102]). Cumulative attack severity, cumulative daily severity, and number of acute attacks treated were reduced. No serious adverse events or discontinuations occurred. Mean EQ‐VAS change from BOP to week 9 of treatment (500 U C1‐INH, 10.4; 1000 U C1‐INH, 21.6) was greater than the minimal important difference, indicating a meaningful HRQoL change. Conclusions: C1‐INH prophylaxis was effective, safe, and well tolerated in children aged 6‐11 years experiencing recurrent angioedema attacks. A post hoc analysis indicated a meaningful improvement in HRQoL with C1‐INH. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02052141. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disease causing unpredictable and potentially life-threatening subcutaneous and submucosal edematous attacks. Cinryze ® (Shire ViroPharma Inc., Lexington, MA, USA), a nanofiltered C1 inhibitor (C1-INH), is approved in Europe for the treatment, preprocedure prevention, and routine prophylaxis of HAE attacks, and for the routine prophylaxis of attacks in the USA. This phase 3 study assessed the safety and efficacy of 2 C1-INH doses in preventing attacks in children aged 6-11 years. Methods: A randomized single-blind crossover study was initiated in March 2014. Results for the first 6 patients completing the study are reported here. After a 12-week qualifying observation period, patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 C1-INH doses, 500 or 1,000 U, every 3-4 days for 12 weeks and crossed over to the alternative dose for a second 12-week period. The primary efficacy endpoint was the number of angioedema attacks per month. Results: Six females with HAE type I and a median age of 10.5 years received 2 doses of C1-INH (500 and 1,000 U). The mean (SD) difference in the number of monthly angioedema attacks between the baseline observation period and the treatment period was -1.89 (1.31) with 500 U and -1.89 (1.11) with 1,000 U. During the treatment periods, cumulative attack severity, cumulative daily severity, and the number of attacks needing acute treatment were lower. No serious adverse events or study drug discontinuations occurred. Conclusions: Interim findings from this study indicate that routine prevention with intravenous administration of C1-INH is efficacious, safe, and well tolerated in children ≥ 6 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Human plasma-derived nanofiltered C1 esterase inhibitor (C1 INH-nf) is used to treat acute angioedema attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema ( HAE), but data regarding use in children are sparse. Methods Patients 2 to <12 years of age, body weight ≥10 kg, with a diagnosis of HAE type I or II, were recruited for a multicenter open-label trial. Patients were recruited into 2 weight categories (10-25 kg, >25 kg). Each weight category included 2 dosing levels: C1 INH-nf (500 units [U], 1000 U) and C1 INH-nf (1000 U, 1500 U), respectively. Patients experiencing an angioedema attack were given a single intravenous dose. Primary efficacy end-point was the onset of unequivocal relief of the defining symptom within 4 h following initiation of C1 INH-nf treatment. Results Nine children were treated: 3 (10-25 kg) received 500 U; 3 (>25 kg) received 1000 U; and 3 (>25 kg) received 1500 U. The lower weight/higher dose category (10-25 kg, 1000 U) was not successfully enrolled. All patients completed the study. Most angioedema attacks (n = 5) were abdominal. All patients met the primary end-point; median time to unequivocal symptom relief was 0.5 (range: 0.25-2.5) h. Doses of C1 INH-nf ranged from 20.8 to 51.9 U/kg. Conclusions Treatment of a single angioedema attack with C1 INH-nf doses of 500 U (in patients 10-25 kg), 1000 U, and 1500 U (in patients >25 kg) were well tolerated. Doses of C1 INH-nf <1000 U may be appropriate in some pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]