Top news of April: Difficult patients, inhaler price caps, genetic testing, more
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Healio has compiled April’s most-read news in asthma and allergy.
Top stories included advice for dealing with problematic patients, preventing and predicting food allergies, biologics in asthma treatment, challenges in genetic testing, and the role of climate change in allergy prevalence.
As difficult patient interactions continue to rise, here is how to handle them
The volume of patients coming through the door and psychostressors in the community can lead to short fuses, but expectations for boundaries and mutual respect can ensure effective and empathetic care, according to members of Healio’s Women in Allergy Peer Perspective Board. Read more.
Allergy & Asthma Network says $35 inhaler price cap will improve health, wellness
The caps that AstraZeneca, Ingelheim and GSK will put on their products will ensure that patients use their medications as prescribed and prevent symptoms from getting worse, said Allergy & Asthma Network CEO Lynda Mitchell, MA, CAE. Read more.
Challenges remain in genetic testing for primary immunodeficiencies
Genetic testing has increased the number of diagnoses, but whole exome and whole genome sequencing are difficult to get, and physicians need access to resources to help them interpret results, Eveline Wu, MD, MSCR, said during the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting. Read more.
Skin tape strip tests at age 2 months indicate later risks for food allergy
The use of a noninvasive skin tape strip at age 2 months can identify infants who are at risk for developing food allergy later and trigger interventions to prevent or mitigate disease development, Donald Y.M. Leung, MD, PhD, told Healio. Read more.
Delaware lawmakers pass first early allergen introduction bill
The legislation will ensure that caregivers in the state get at least one free peanut and one egg food allergen supplement for their infant during their 4- to 6-month well visits to prevent allergy development, Delaware Rep. Kimberly Williams told Healio. Read more.
Transepidermal water loss predicts reaction severity in peanut oral food challenge
Baseline values included 11.56 g/m2/hr for patients with grade 1 reactions, 12.36 g/m2/for those with grade 2 reactions and 15.09 g/m2/for those with grade 3 reactions, George E. Freigeh, MD, said at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.
Fasenra receives FDA approval for asthma treatment in children aged 6 to 11 years
Results of a phase 3 study in this age group were consistent with previous trials of older patients in assessing maximum serum, concentration, clearance, half-life and blood eosinophil count as well as safety and tolerability, Donna Carstens, MD, told Healio. Read more.
Patients see fewer asthma exacerbations with lebrikizumab
Reductions among adults included 29% for those on 125 mg doses and 35% for those on 37.5 mg doses, reductions for adolescents included 51% for those on 125 mg doses and 40% for those on 37.5 mg doses. Also, Sonali P. Majmudar, MD, shares her Perspective. Read more.
PICU admission for anaphylaxis often involves drug reactions, breathing difficulties
Patients with respiratory symptoms were 5.05 times more likely to be admitted than those with no respiratory symptoms, and those with drug reactions were 17.46 times more likely to be admitted than those with no drug reactions, Omar Yamak, MD, said at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.
Climate change major cause of increased allergy prevalence
Global warming and climate change, including increases in air pollution and longer pollen seasons, are affecting the human exposome and triggering more complex immune responses, Mary Margaret Johnson, MD, PhD, told Healio. Read more.