Picturing asthma in Turkey: results from the Turkish adult asthma registry

INTRODUCTION

National data on asthma characteristics and the factors associated with uncontrolled asthma seem to be necessary for every country. For this purpose, we developed the Turkish Adult Asthma Registry for patients with asthma aiming to take a snapshot of our patients, thereby assigning the unmet needs and niche areas of intervention.

METHODS

Case entries were performed between March 2018 and March 2022. A web-based application was used to record data. Study outcomes were demographic features, disease characteristics, asthma control levels, and phenotypes.

RESULTS

The registry included 2053 patients from 36 study centers in Turkey. Female subjects dominated the group (n = 1535, 74.8%). The majority of the patients had allergic (n = 1158, 65.3%) and eosinophilic (n = 1174, 57.2%) asthma. Six hundred nineteen (32.2%) of the patients had obese asthma. Severe asthma existed in 670 (32.6%) patients. Majority of cases were on step 3-5 treatment (n: 1525; 88.1%). Uncontrolled asthma was associated with low educational level, severe asthma attacks in the last year, low FEV1, existence of chronic rhinosinusitis and living in particular regions.

CONCLUSION

The picture of this registry showed a dominancy of middle-aged obese women with moderate-to-severe asthma. We also determined particular strategic targets such as low educational level, severe asthma attacks, low FEV1, and chronic rhinosinusitis to decrease uncontrolled asthma in our country. Moreover, some regional strategies may also be needed as uncontrolled asthma is higher in certain regions. We believe that these data will guide authorities to reestablish national asthma programs to improve asthma service delivery.

Hypersensitivity reactions to COVID-19 vaccines: a case of Eosinophilic pneumonia following Sinovac/CoronaVac vaccination

Summary

Hypersensitivity reactions has been reported with COVID-19 vaccines. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia has not been reported yet after Sinovac/CoronaVac vaccine. A 73-year-old woman presented with maculopapular rash, cough and dyspnea following Sinovac/CoronaVac injection. The complete blood count (CBC) indicated eosinophilia and further evaluation of the eosinophilia with CT and bronchoscopy confirmed a diagnosis of acute eosinophilic pneumonia. After methylprednisolone therapy, her rash resolved with marked improvement of the dyspnea. She is still on treatment and on the follow up period, we plan to continue steroid treatment at least 3 months.

Functionality of natural killer cells in obese asthma phenotypes

BACKGROUND

Obesity-associated asthma (OA) is a difficult to treat asthma phenotype due to its severity and poor response to inhaled steroids. Early-onset allergic (EoOA) and late-onset non-allergic (LoOA) OA are suggested subtypes of this phenotype. Natural Killer (NK) cells are key elements of innate immunity involved in cytotoxicity and immune regulation, with uncertain role in OA pathogenesis.

METHODS

Early-onset allergic and LoOA patients together with obese non-asthmatic (ONA) controls have been enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood samples have been collected for analysis. Percentages of total NK cells, CD3^- CD56^dim and CD3^- CD56^bright NK cell subsets, cytotoxic activity, intracellular interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-13, IL-17 secretion and activatory receptors (NKG2D, NKp46i and NKp44) have been investigated by flow cytometry. The effect of IL-12 and IL-23 stimulation on NK cells and intracellular cytokines in different groups have also been analysed and compared with unstimulated conditions.

RESULTS

Results of ONA (n = 5, age 42 ± 8), EoOA (n = 5, age 42 ± 10) and LoOA (n = 8, age 46 ± 8) patients have analysed. Body Mass Index has been found to be negatively correlated with CD69 (p = .022, r = -0.534). NKG2D receptor has been significantly low in CD56^dim cells of asthma population (p = .046). NKp44 receptor expression has increased after IL-12 stimulation in EoOA and control group (p = .02). Intracellular IL-10 content has increased in LoOA and control subjects (p = .018, p = .03) but not in the EoOA group. Intracellular IL-17 level has found be higher in allergic OA group. LoOA patients showed a decreased NK cytotoxicity compared with the early-onset asthma group (p = .05).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests an impaired NK receptor expression, activation and reduced cytotoxicity in OA patients together with variances between different subtypes of this phenotype. This data would be beneficial for tailoring a more personalized treatment strategy combatting steroid resistance and frequent exacerbations in this group of patients.

COVID-19, Severe Asthma and Omalizumab Therapy: A Case-Based Inquiry into Associations, Management, and the Possibility of a Better Outcome

Recent developments in research have put forward claims on the protective effect of allergic diseases-especially allergic airway inflammation including allergic asthma-against the COVID-19 pandemic. This was first suggested by the underrepresentation of asthma patients in some cohorts and was later investigated by angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACEII) receptor expression studies. Controversial data on this matter persists and continue to be a challenge for clinicians when it comes to managing allergic diseases during the pandemic. We present in this study a thorough review of related findings so far and our own experience with 2 severe asthma patients who presented with atypical symptoms. Interestingly, both patients were administered anti-IgE therapy prior to the initial positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results for COVID-19 and showed no symptoms of severe respiratory disease during the infection unlike what we know from other viral respiratory illnesses. Stemming from that, we wanted to combine the perspectives of allergists and infectious disease specialists to address certain concerns in the management of allergic diseases, such as biologicals, in the light of current guidelines. We have also pointed out certain gaps in clinical and molecular level research, such as the lack of phenotypicalsubgroup analysis among ill asthma patients and the lack of data concerning the molecular effects of biologicals on viral infection.

Change in Allergy Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background

International guidelines in asthma and allergy has been updated for COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic has caused dramatic changes in allergy and immunology services. However, it is not known whether specialty-specific recommendations for COVID-19 are followed by allergists.

Objectives

By conducting this study, we aimed to determine the attitudes and experiences of adult/pediatric allergists on allergy management during COVID-19.

Method

We used a 20-question survey to elicit data from allergists (residents and pediatric and adult allergists registered to the Turkish National Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) across Turkey via e-mail. We analyzed the data statistically for frequency distributions and descriptive analysis.

Results

A total of 183 allergists participated in the survey. Telemedicine was used for management of asthma (73%), allergic rhinitis (53%), atopic dermatitis (51%), chronic urticaria/angioedema (59%), drug hypersensitivity (45%), food allergy (48%), venom allergy (30%), anaphylaxis (22%), and hereditary angioedema (28%). Thirty-one percent of the respondents discontinued subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-four percent of the physicians reported interruption of systemic steroid use in asthma patients, and 25% of the respondents discontinued biological therapy.

Conclusions

Allergists in Turkey have been using telemedicine at a high rate during the COVID-19 pandemic for asthma and rhinitis. The continuation rate of SCIT was low while the discontinuation rate of biologicals and systemic steroid use in asthma was high in Turkey. Our study results and learning from the experiences of other countries and specialties may help to optimize allergy practice and compatibility with international guidelines.

Greater magnitude of entheseal microdamage and repair in psoriatic arthritis compared with ankylosing spondylitis on ultrasound

Objectives

AS and PsA share clinical and immunological features centred on enthesitis. However, a strong association between PsA and preceding injury has been recognized. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the entheseal damage seen by US is commoner in PsA patients than in AS patients.

Methods

Seventy-nine AS and 85 PsA patients had US scans of 1640 entheses to calculate entheseal inflammation (hypoechogenicity, thickening and Doppler) and damage scores (calcifications, enthesophytes and erosions). Regression modelling was done to evaluate the effect of diagnoses on outcomes, controlling for age, gender, BMI, clinical enthesitis, HLA-B27, and anti-TNF use.

Results

Both inflammation and damage scores on US were correlated with BMI (r = 0.392; r = 0.320) and age (r = 0.308; r = 0.538) (P < 0.001), and men had higher inflammation scores than women [12.3 (7.5) vs 8.9 (7.3), P = 0.001]. In multivariate analysis, despite similar (anti-TNF-treated patients) or slightly less inflammation (anti-TNF-naïve patients) in the PsA group, they had 4.22 times more US damage than their counterparts with AS. The difference was even higher in the anti-TNF-naïve patients (5.6 times).

Conclusion

On US assessment, PsA patients have greater entheseal insertion damage scores compared with AS, suggesting potential differences in tissue repair, immunobiology or response to injury at insertions.

The role of atopy in the pathogenesis of bleomycin pulmonary toxicity

INTRODUCTION

Bleomycin pulmonary toxicity (BPT) is a potentially life-threatening consequence of bleomycin usage in patients. An overproduction of epithelium-derived cytokines, habitually linked to allergic inflammation, has been recently revealed in experimental models of BPT.

METHODS

We assessed retrospectively our cohort of patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma treated with bleomycin between 2014 and 2016 for their demographic, clinical features, including BPT development, atopy status and risk factors for BPT. Then they were invited for allergy testing and blood sample collection. The samples were stimulated with different stimuli (Bleomycin, IL-33, TSLP) for 24 h on cell culture. The culture supernatants were analysed for TGF-β, Galectin3, Arginin, Amphiregulin, Eotaxin, IFNγ, TNFα, IL1β, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13, 17, MIP-1α, and bleomycin hydrolase (BLH) levels.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 51 patients showed that atopy was the only significant risk factor for BPT occurrence (OR: 7.2, p = 0.007). Fourteen subjects were included for blood analysis. The analysis of supernatants at the unstimulated condition revealed that BLH and Amphiregulin were significantly lower in patients who had BPT than controls. The BLH cut-off that best identified a history of BPT was 175.31 (Sensitivity: 62.5%, specificity: 100%). Following the stimulation, BLH reduced compared to the unstimulated condition and the difference between groups remained significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first to report that low levels of bleomycin hydrolase in allergic individuals may be predisposing to a possible pathway of fibrosis.

Challenges in the management of severe allergic asthma in the elderly

Little is known about the features of asthma and allergy in the elderly. A significant number of elderly patients with asthma have uncontrolled and severe asthma. This review aims to provide an analysis of the literature on the assessment and phenotype of severe allergic asthma in the elderly. Gaps and pitfalls in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, as well as management of severe allergic asthma in the elderly, are also discussed.

Association between asthma self-management knowledge and asthma control in the elderly

BACKGROUND

Considerable evidence points to the importance of patient education in achieving better asthma control. However, little is known about the effect of older adults' asthma knowledge on asthma control.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the relation between asthma self-management knowledge and short-term asthma control in older adults.

METHODS

The study included 82 patients with asthma undergoing usual asthma care who were interviewed by the same trained allergist. At the same time, the authors conducted an asthma knowledge questionnaire, an Asthma Control Test, skin prick testing, spirometry, and evaluation of inhaler device technique. The Turkish version of the asthma knowledge questionnaire was administered to all participants in face-to-face interviews. The relation between asthma knowledge and asthma control was tested by regression analysis.

RESULTS

The education level was below the secondary level in 79% of patients; 59% of patients were obese; and 44% of patients had mild, 41% had moderate, and 5% had severe persistent asthma. The atopy rate was 21%. The most common sensitization was to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Fifty-two percent of patients had uncontrolled asthma; 22 patients showed proper use of the inhaler device. Forty patients (48%) had limited asthma knowledge. The main source of asthma knowledge was from physicians for 81% of patients. There was no significant association between patients' asthma knowledge and asthma control level (P = .991).

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of asthma was very low in elderly patients and usual asthma care was largely insufficient. These findings suggest that asthma education programs should be developed for older adults based on their education level and clinical asthma characteristics.

Clinical and allergic sensitization characteristics of allergic rhinitis among the elderly population in Istanbul, Turkey

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in elderly population in Turkey is not known. Studies on the prevalence and features of allergy in older adults are needed to identify safe and effective diagnostic/therapeutic methods for elderly AR patients. We aimed to identify the clinical and allergic characteristics of sensitization to aeroallergens among individuals aged ≥60 years with allergic rhinitis admitted to an allergy outpatient clinic in Istanbul. Of 109 patients, 33.9 % were atopic. Sixty-five percent of subjects were sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 17 % to a grass-pollen mixture, 8 % to Aspergillus fumigatus, and 8 % to Blattella germanica. There was no difference between mono- and polysensitized patients in terms of the duration of rhinitis and symptom severity. No significant difference was observed between the two groups according to age, sex, smoking status, AR onset (<40 or ≥40 years), or duration/severity of disease. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the prevalence of asthma and conjunctivitis, (p = 0.256). Atopic dermatitis/eczema was more prevalent in those with AR (p = 0.046). Clinical characteristics of AR in the elderly could be different from those in non-allergic patients, and the prevalence of allergy may be higher than expected.

Omalizumab in recurring larynx angioedema: a case report

Angioedema with swelling of larynx is a serious allergic reaction and can be life-threatening. It can occur after exposure to various triggers and usually it is very difficult for the patient and the doctor to find the trigger and maintain complete remission. In idiopathic recurring angioedema presenting with frequent attacks, prophylaxis with H₁ antihistamines recommended. However, not all patients respond to antihistamines. Omalizumab is an anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)-E-Ig-G antibody approved for the treatment of asthma and also effective treatment in chronic spontaneous urticaria. We report a 47-year-old male patient with severe idiopathic angioedema controlled by corticosteroid and proggressed after discontining of corticosteroid because of its side effects. Omalizumab at a dose of 300 mg every 4 weeks was administrated and omalizumab provided a rapid clinical response after first injection. During the 4 months of omalizumab therapy, he had no further attacks and any other treatment needs. After 3 months of stopping omalizumab therapy, during the 4-week period he had two mild lip swelling in his lips that resolved with antihistamines.

Does nasal hair (vibrissae) density affect the risk of developing asthma in patients with seasonal rhinitis?

BACKGROUND

Large particles entering the nose are collected by nasal hair present in the anterior nares. Increased hair density provides an improvement in the filtering efficiency of the nose, while reduced amounts of nasal hair cause a decrease in its efficiency. The amount of nasal hair can vary between individuals, which can make a difference in the filtering efficiency of the nose. Reduced filter function of the nose leads to increased exposure of the airways to allergens. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nasal hair density on the risk of developing asthma in seasonal rhinitis (SR) patients.

METHODS

A standard questionnaire was filled in, and physical examination and allergy tests were performed in 233 patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the amount of nasal hair [few (few or none), moderate and many]. The association between asthma and nasal hair density was assessed.

RESULTS

Asthma was detected in 75 patients (32.2%), and of these, 45 (60%) also had pollen asthma. The rate of asthma was 44.7, 26.2 and 16.7% in the few, moderate and many groups, respectively (p = 0.002). Few nasal hairs significantly increased the risk of developing asthma [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): few, reference; moderate, 0.41 (0.21-0.78); many, 0.19 (0.06-0.55); p = 0.002].

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the amount of nasal hair providing a nose filtration function has a protective effect on the risk of developing asthma in SR patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on this subject in the literature.