Alpha-Gal Syndrome in Children: Peculiarities of a “Tick-Borne” Allergic Disease

The alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic syndrome that comprises two clinical pictures: an immediate hypersensitivity to drugs containing alpha-gal and a delayed hypersensitivity to the ingestion of red mammalian meat. This allergic syndrome is often under-recognized, and patients are mislabeled with diagnosis as spontaneous urticaria or idiopathic anaphylaxis. Even though less frequently, children could also be of interest, especially in tick-endemic areas. In most cases, a positive anamnesis for tick bites months before the onset of symptoms is recorded. The clinical manifestations could range from asymptomatic cases to severe anaphylaxis. The most frequently used diagnostic test is the determination of specific IgE for alpha-gal. Oral provocation test is usually reserved to unclear cases or to verify tolerance after diet. No long-term follow-up studies have been published, although an elimination diet could lead to a decrease of specific IgE for alpha-gal and a possible reintroduction of some avoided foods. This paper provides a literature review, focused on pediatric age, and an evaluation of available diagnostic tests. We analyze the correlation between tick bites and symptom onset and unfold the different clinical pictures to help clinicians to promptly recognized this syndrome. Lastly, we address unmet needs in this specific allergy.

The low-FODMAP diet as an effective tool for managing irritable bowel syndrome – an assessment of adult patients’ knowledge of dietary guidelines

Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder that is driven by the gutbrain axis and affects 1-20% of the population. Most patients note that various foods elicit abdominal symptoms, and they eliminate these products from their diets. A diet that is low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) is currently one of the mainstays in IBS treatment. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of IBS patients about the disease, treatment and the principles of the low-FODMAP diet that can alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms. Material and methods. The participants were adults diagnosed with IBS, the inclusion criteria were: absence of comorbidities requiring an elimination diet, age over 18 years, and consent to participate in the study. The respondents filled out an anonymous questionnaire containing questions about the IBS diagnosis, disease history and treatment, as well as 45 questions assessing the participants’ knowledge about the low-FODMAP diet. Results. In 28% of the cases, IBS was diagnosed by a general practitioner; in nearly 40% of the cases – by a gastroenterology specialist; in 10% of the cases – by a dietitian, whereas the remaining respondents had arrived at the diagnosis independently or with the help of support groups for IBS patients. After diagnosis, only every fourth respondent sought treatment in a gastroenterology clinic. In the studied population, 237 of the respondents had followed to the low-FODMAP diet, and the differentiating factors were sex (p=0.002), place of residence (city with a population higher than 100,000 vs. rural area; p=0.0001) and education (university vs. vocational school p=0.0043). Respondents who had been recently diagnosed with IBS (less than 12 months vs. more than 12 months before the study) were more likely to follow the FODMAP diet. Conclusions. The surveyed population was characterized by high levels of knowledge about the low-FODMAP diet, but many respondents did not strictly comply with dietary guidelines, in particular the duration of each dietary phase. Age was significantly correlated with the respondents’ knowledge, and the participants’ familiarity with low-FODMAP guidelines decreased with age. Nutritional consultations did not significantly improve the respondents’ knowledge about the low-FODMAP diet.

Food allergies and acute allergic reactions: diagnostic options

Introduction. Anaphylaxis is a systemic potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction featuring the rapid onset, manifestations of the respiratory tract and/or hemodynamics and usually, but not always, accompanied by changes in the skin and mucous membranes [1]. The cause of developing an acute generalized reaction in food anaphylaxis may be the minimum culprit product amount that has entered the patient's body through the mouth or through the skin/mucous membranes. Patients like these are, as a rule, first seen by a paediatrician, a related specialist, or a paramedic. Since the doctors often consider the symptoms of foodborne anaphylaxis separately, the latter does not cause proper suspicion: angioedema and/or acute urticaria accompanying rhinorrhea, acute bronchospasm or laryngitis developed extremely quickly or immediately after contact with an allergen.The aim of the work was to acquaint paediatricians and doctors of related specialties with the food anaphylaxis symptoms, to justify the need for an allergologist-immunologist to consult these patients in order to resolve the issue of required component-resolved diagnosis of allergy and development of an individual elimination diet, taking into account the patient's sensitization profile.Materials and methods. Clinical observation of a child (boy, age — 12 months) with symptoms of atopic dermatitis and episodes of food anaphylaxis in the anamnesis; general clinical examination and allergological examination of the patient by component allergodiagnostics were performed.Results. Sensitization to ovalbumin (Gald 2 -16.60 kU/l) and ovomucoid (Gald 1-9.01 kU/l) was established. The detected sensitization is a predictor of severe systemic allergic reactions to eggs.Discussion. Component diagnostics performed as prescribed by an allergologist not only confirms the causative allergen, but also evaluates the risks of developing acute reactions if the allergen is accidentally introduced to the child and the timing of the patient's tolerance formation. This sensitization will cause sudden systemic allergic reactions for years to come.Conclusion. It is important for a specialist to timely suspect food anaphylaxis, differentiate it from other emergency and urgent conditions, and give the patient the correct recommendations on the need for consultation with an allergologist-immunologist. Only a thoughtful, comprehensive medical approach to each acute condition in a child will significantly reduce the risk of repeated episodes of food anaphylaxis.

GGLUTEN-SENSITIVE ENTEROPATHY - NEW VIEW ON PROBLEM

Gluten sensitive enteropathy-celiac disease is an immune-mediated disorder caused by permanent sensitivity to gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Epidemiologic studies of last years suggest that it is common and may occur in 0,5-1% of the general population. The bowel inflammatory and immunologic response results in atrophy and damage in the small bowel and secondary malabsorbtion. The mode of presentation can be quite variable. Celiac disease is generally defined as chronic diarrea and failure to thrive in infants and toddlers, diarrhea is still the most common symptom, but disease may occure in different age groups and with exstraintestinal, sometimes monosymptomic clinic. Clinical forms of celiac disease are: classic, atypical, silent, latent and potential. Definitive diagnose of Celiac disease requires serrologic screening, small intestinal biopsy and effectiveness of elimination diet. Anti-tissue transglutaminase antybody test (TTG IgA and TTG IgG) is highly sensitive, specific and less expensive, thus is recommended for general practice. None of serologic tests are 100% reliable. Definitive diagnosis requires characteristic histologic changes in intestine mucus. Tissue for investigation may be taken from duodenum during gastro endoscopy. Diagnosing only by results of gluten-free diet is not correct. The only treatment for celiac disease is lifelong exclusion of gluten. Early diagnosis and strict dietary restrictions appear to be the only possibility of prevention risk for failure to thrive, delay of sexual maturity, autoimmune disorders, adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal tract and lymphoma.

Intrinsic Atopic Dermatitis: Titration of Precipitins in the Screening of Food Allergens for Prescription of Elimination Diets and Desensitization Strategies

Background: The diagnosis of non-IgE mediated food allergies may be a complex puzzle when there is no start point to establish an elimination diet to allow a clear clinical field to initiate diagnostic Oral Food Challenges tests. Objective: To evaluate the opportunity of the tube titration of precipitins to select food allergens to proceed with elimination diets to assist the diagnosis and management of adult patients with Food Allergy manifested as Intrinsic Atopic Dermatitis (IAD). Methods: The tube titration of specific precipitins against anamnesis-chosen food allergens were performed in 64 IAD patients and their titers were associated with an Improvement Verbal Scale Rate (IVSR) of the patient’s perception of the benefits of the Precipitins-based Elimination Diet (PED) performed with these specific food allergens, as well correlated with their positive or negative perception of the impairment of symptoms after the reintroduction of the Symptom-Related Food Allergen (SRFA). Results: In most cases, the PED contributed to a significant clinical improvement that allowed the patients to evaluate the individual effect of the reintroduction of each food allergen on their diets. There was a significant positive correlation coefficient between the titers of the food-specific titration of precipitins and the percentage of positive SRFA (Pearson r = 0.91; p-value = 0.0004). Conclusion: The semiquantitative titration of specific precipitins against food allergens is a promising triage test to select food allergens to proceed with elimination diets to support the diagnosis and management of non-IgE mediated Food Allergy in patients with Intrinsic Atopic Dermatitis.

Non-IgE Mediated Hypersensitivity to Food Products or Food Intolerance—Problems of Appropriate Diagnostics

The diagnosis of food intolerance is tricky due to the different etiologies of adverse reactions. There is also a lack of clear rules for interpreting alternative tests used to diagnose these problems. The analyses of IgG4 concentration in serum or cytotoxic tests became the basis of elimination diets. However, it can result in nutritional deficiencies and loss of tolerance to eliminated foods. Our study aimed to assess the necessity of food elimination in four cases with food intolerance symptoms based on alternative diagnostic tests. Four patients without food allergies, who manifested diverse clinical symptoms after food, were presented due to the following factors: clinical history, diagnostic tests, elimination diet, and filaggrin gene (FLG) mutation. It was found that higher IgG4 levels against foods and higher cytotoxic test values are not clinically relevant in each of the studied individuals. They should not be decisive for the elimination of food products. The study of FLG-SNVs revealed the association of some clinical symptoms in patients with hypersensitivity to several food allergens and reported genetic variants in the FLG gene.

Immunogenetic, Molecular and Microbiotic Determinants of Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Clinical Practice—A New Perspective of an Old Disease

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, allergic disease associated with a T-lymphocyte response inducing esophageal eosinophilic infiltration in the esophagus. Inflammation and tissue fibrosis are responsible for the main clinical symptoms such as food impaction and dysphagia. The etiopathogenesis is multifactorial in which genetic and environmental factors coexist. The most common trigger is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy to milk, wheat, egg, soybean, nuts, fish, and seafood. The second factor we focus on is the contribution of genetic variation to the risk of EoE, describing the expression profile of selected genes associated with eosinophilic oesophagitis. We raise the topic of treatment, aiming to eliminate inflammation through an elimination diet and/or use of pharmacologic therapy with the use of proton pump inhibitors or steroids and endoscopic procedures to dilate the esophagus. We demonstrate that early diagnosis and effective treatment prevent the development of food impaction and decreased quality of life. The increasing presence of EoE requires bigger awareness among medical specialists concerning clinical features, the course of EoE, diagnostic tools, and management strategies.

Diet Elimination of The Breastfeeding Mother in Treating Allergies of Infants Ages 0-12

Background: Breast Milk (BM) is the primary nutrient that must be given to babies. Complete breast milk nutrients help the babies' growth, development, and boost immunity. Some data found that breastfeeding triggers infant allergies. Objectives: To critically appraise the evidence of the effectiveness of the breastfeeding mother's elimination diet (ED) in treating allergies of infants ages 0-12. Methods: A literature search was conducted for publication during 2016 – 2021 using the following databases: EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Proquest with the search keywords of "Elimination Diet" AND "Allergies" AND "Breastfeeding". Eight primary articles were selected and included in the review. Results: The study revealed five themes, namely the effectiveness of the elimination diet, the variation of the elimination diet, the effects of the elimination diet, the breast milk benefit, and the support from the family and healthcare while doing the elimination diet. Conclusion: Having babies with allergies can put mothers in a dilemma situation. Fortunately, a mother can still breastfeed their babies without worrying about their babies' growth. Support from health workers and families is needed by breastfeeding mothers in doing the elimination diet consistently.

Nutritional status and vitamin D intake in children with severe AD

Relevance of topic. Atopic dermatitis is a wide-spread skin disease that can significantly reduce patient’s quality of life. Many authors around the globe conduct research to find correlation between atopic detmatitis in children, their growth, development of allergic comorbidities (food allergy in particular) and elimination diet prescription.Aim of the study. To estimate growth indices and nutritional status in children with severe atopic dermatitis and allergic comorbidities on the elimination diet.Methods. This study included children of age 0-17 years 11 months, hospitalized in Dermatology with the Laser Surgery department in the National Medical Research Centre of Children’s Health from September 2020 to May 2021. Anthropometric indices, levels of serum vitamin D, albumin, hemoglobin and total IgE were estimated in all children.Results. This study included 80 children. There was a moderate negative correlation between the number of excluded food groups, the disease longitude (p = 0.003; r = -0.333) and HAZ (p = 0.010; r = -0.351). There was a moderate negative correlation between the age of children and serum vitamin D (p = 0.040; r = -0.317) and a moderate positive - between BAZ and serum vitamin D (p = 0.030; r = 0.332). There was a weak negative correlation between serum vitamin D and total serum IgE (p = 0.033; r = -0.239) and between BAZ and serum hemoglobin (p = 0.028; r = 0.246).Conclusions. The results of this study demonstrate a low intake of vitamin D in children with severe atopic dermatitis, worsening with age. Vitamin D level correlated with BAZ, also the results showed lower vitamin D intake in children with high levels of total Ig E.