Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.08.2002, Blaðsíða 23

ABSTRACTS / 21 ST NORDIC CONGRESS OF ALLERGOLOGY
Mediterranean Mixed Grass Cat Hair Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus (D.P.). Positive to any pollen Olea Europea Blatella Germanica Positive to any allergen
Total n(%) 39(4.6) 54(6.4) 105(12.4) 112(13.1) 54(6.4) 42(5.0) 209(24.65)
Girls n(%) 13(2.5) 24(4.7) 54(10.5) 59(11.5) 30(5.8) 23(4.5) 111(21.51)
Boys n(%) 26(7.8) 30(9.0) 51(15.4) 53(15.9) 24(7.2) 19(5.7) 98(29.52)
Results: Are shown as mean(SD) in the table above, according to sex.
There was a correlation between the month of birth and
sensitization to any pollen but not to D.P. (figure).
Using chi-square analysis for trends we found that there is a
tendency for over-weight students (BMI quartile 23.93-41.51) to be
atopic (p=0.06).
Conclusion: Pollens are the main sensitizing allergens in Heraklion
children, followed by mites. Month of birth seems to be important
for the development of specific allergies. There is a tendency for
over-weight children to be sensitized.
P 9 - Prematurity and development of hypersensitivity
Stencel-Gabriel K, Lukas A, Obuchowicz A
3rd Clinic of Pediatrics, Bytom, Poland
The aim of the study was to estimate the factors influencing during
pregnancy and first months after birth on appearance of hyper-
sensitivity later in life.
Group of 2800 children were admitted to hospital because of
pulmonal disease such as pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, chronic
recurrent obstructive bronchitis(r.b.o). 33 children(group A) who
were born before 37-week-of gestation and 99 infants after 37
weeks(group B) were chosen. Comparing the average of mothers’
age was around 28 years old and was about 3 years older than in
group B. 2% of deliveries were done by ceasarean section in both
groups. Vaginal bacterial flora is supposed to enhance development
of Thl/Th2 balance in infants. Mothers from group A were 4 times
more often treated with antibiotic therapy than in group B. In
addition, higher socio-economic status was found in group B. In
both examined groups the number of smoking mothers was
comparable but more passive smokers were in group B. Children
who were breast-fed until 6-months-old in group-3% and in group
B-70%. All infants had skin PRICK tests, IgE total for grass, tree
pollen, house dust mite+ food allergens done. The results were
statistically lower for group A.
Considering time of birth and pollen season 10% more pre-
mature children were born at that time. During otolaryngological
consultation rhinitis allergica and otitis was rarely diagnosed.
We conclude immature immunological system is not able to
respond so that it can protect from further development of allergy.
P 10 - Activity of cetirizine and desloratadine on skin
reactions induced by histamine over 24 hours
Frossard N, Purohit A, Mélac M, Pauli G
Inserm U425, Service de Pneumologie, BP 24,67401 Illkirch Cedex, France
This study compared the activity of cetirizine (10 mg) and
desloratadine (5 mg) on the skin reaction to histamine administered
by prick tests (100 mg/ml) measured by the wheal and flare surface
areas over 24 hours (before treatment, 0.5,1,2, 3,4, 6, 8,10,12 and
24 h). This was a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled,
single oral dose, cross-over trial. Eighteen healthy volunteers (33.9 y;
13 females) participated into this study. The areas under the curves
(AUC) of the wheal and flare areas as a function of time (primary
efficacy variables) were compared by ANOVA. A highly significant
overall treatment effect (p<0.0001) was detected for both wheal and
flare inhibition. In addition, the pairwise comparisons revealed that
the activity of cetirizine and desloratadine was significantly superior
to that of placebo (p<0.000l), and the activity of cetirizine was
significantly superior to that of desloratadine (p<0.0001). Under
desloratadine, 3 out of 18 subjects achieved a wheal inhibition of at
least 70% between 3 and 10 hours, whereas all subjects under
cetirizine reached a wheal inhibition of at least 70% between 1 and
3 hours (median time = 1.7 h). The difference between the 2 active
drugs was highly significant (p<0.0001). The median duration during
which the wheal inhibition was of at least 70% was zero under
placebo and under desloratadine, and was 21.9 hours under
cetirizine (p<0.0001). No uncommon adverse events were reported
and no subject withdrew from the study due to an adverse event. In
conclusion, this study clearly shows the superior activity of cetirizine
to suppress skin reactivity to histamine compared with desloratadine
during 24 hours after a single dose, with a consistency of the duration
of action of cetirizine as previously reported.
P 11 - Anaphylaxis to horse
Gawlik R, Pitsch T
There is limited information about allergy to horse, although
allergy to furred animals is a widespreading phenomenon. Horse
allergy occurs among people who regularly handle horses, either
professionally or for recreational purposes. There are only few
reports about anaphylaxis episodes connected with allergy to horse.
We report the case of a six-year old girl, who was admitted to the
allergology clinic after presenting an episode of anaphylaxis three
days before during snow sledging. The reaction occurred shortly
after 10 minutes period of riding sleigh drawn by a horse. The symp-
toms included sneezing, running nose, blushed skin, oedemated
palpebras and lips, difficult breathing, syncope. The girl was
transferred to the emergency ward and in the clinical examination
the symptoms of tachypnoe, tachycardia (110/min), blood pressure
80/50 mmHg, body temperature 35.3 C and wheezes and crackles
over the lungs were observed. In the emergency department she
received intramuscular clemastine, intravenous hydrocortisone and
oral prednisone and quick improvement was reported.
The skin prick tests with common inhalant allergens were
performed in our clinic (Allergopharma, Germany). Negative skin
prick tests exept to horse, cat and dog epithelium were observed.
The arithmetic means of wheal diameters were as follows: 14mm
for horse, 5 mm for cat, 4 for dog, and 4mm for histamine HCl 0,1 %.
Læknablaðið/Fylgirit 46 2002/88 23