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Biomedical subjects

F Rancé

Publications and source records attributed to F Rancé.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[What type of avoidance for peanut allergic children?].

We analyzed, from the literature, the balance benefit/risk of a strict avoidance of peanut in children with peanut allergy. The benefits of a strict avoidance diet seem limited: reactions to the low doses and to the peanut oil refined are rare and most often slight. It is not proven that a strict avoidance facilitates the cure of allergy. On the other hand, strict avoidance could induce a worsening of allergy, with deterioration of quality of life, creation of food neophobia. In case of cure of allergy, it is difficult to normalize the diet after a strict avoidance. Outside of the rare sensitive patients to a very low dose of peanut, for which a strict avoidance is counseled, the report benefits risk is in favor of the prescription of adapted avoidance to the eliciting dose. For the majority of the peanut allergic children, it seems to us that the avoidance can and must be limited to the non hidden peanut.

Allergens↗

EAACI/GA2LEN position paper: present status of the atopy patch test.

A number of scientific reports have been published on patch tests with protein allergens performed on patients with atopic eczema (AE). Evaluation of eczematous skin lesions with an atopy patch test (APT) can be used as a diagnostic tool in characterizing patients with aeroallergen- and food-triggered AE. Indications for testing with APT, choice of allergens (aeroallergens and foods), test materials and technique, including present knowledge on sensitivity and specificity, are reviewed on the basis of available literature. This position paper also points out the need for future research on the clinical use of the APT.

Allergy and Immunology↗

Allergy to goat and sheep milk without allergy to cow's milk.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk (CM) allergy is the most frequent cause of food allergy in infants. Most children who are allergic to CM are also sensitized to whey proteins and/or to the casein fraction and many of them cannot tolerate goat's or sheep's milk (GSM) either. Conversely, the GSM allergies that are not associated with allergic cross-reactivity to CM are rare. METHODS: Twenty-eight children who had severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, after consumption of GSM products but tolerated CM products were recruited in a retrospective study. Whole casein and whey proteins were fractionated from CM and GSM. beta-Lactoglobulin and the different caseins were isolated, purified and used to perform enzyme allergosorbent tests (EAST) and EAST inhibition studies with the sera of the allergic children. RESULTS: Clinical observations, skin prick testing and immunoglobulin (Ig)E-binding studies confirmed the diagnosis of GSM allergy without associated CM allergy. EAST determinations demonstrated that GSM allergy involves the casein fraction and not whey proteins. Cow's milk caseins were not at all or poorly recognized by the patient's IgE, while alphaS(1)-, alphaS(2)- and beta-caseins from GSM were recognized with a high specificity and affinity. In all cases, increasing concentrations of CM caseins failed to inhibit the binding of patient's IgE to sheep or goat milk caseins, whereas this binding was completely inhibited by GSM caseins. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of GSM allergy differ from those of the CM allergy because it affects older children and appears later. CM products do not elicit any clinical manifestation in GSM allergic patients, whereas CM allergic patients, usually cross-react to GSM. In all the GSM allergic children, the IgE antibodies recognized the caseins but not the whey proteins. Moreover, IgE specificity and affinity was high to GSM and lower to CM caseins despite their marked sequence homology. Doctors and allergic individuals should be aware that GSM allergy requires a strict avoidance of GSM and milk-derived products because reactions could be severe after ingestion of minimal doses of the offending food.

Adolescent↗

The risk of systemic reactions to skin prick-tests using food allergens: CICBAA data and literature review.

Prick-tests to foods are usually carried out as the first step in the diagnosis of food allergy. Severe anaphylaxis accounts for 4.9 % of allergies in children and occurs more frequently in adults, raising the possibility of systemic reactions to prick-tests in highly sensitized people. Several studies published in the literature have used commercial extracts. As for airborne allergens, concentrations causing a skin reaction of 15 mm do not present a risk of systemic reactions. Prick-tests to native foods--prick-in-prick tests--have been less extensively studied. The CICBAA1 data, from 1,138 food allergic patients of all ages, cover 34,905 prick-in-prick tests to foods. The wheal of these prick-tests has been regulary registered. The risk of systemic reactions can be evaluated at 0.008 %. There were no severe reactions and anti-histamine and corticosteroid therapy were sufficient. These results are similar to those of the large study in 2000 carried out by Devenney in neonates (0.005%). A review of the literature reveals only a few severe reactions in adults. The authors draw attention to the necessary precautions: temporary contra-indication for skin prick-tests in children and adults with grade 3 or 4 asthma, with particular attention to such foods as all kinds of nuts, fish, etc.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence and main characteristics of schoolchildren diagnosed with food allergies in France.

BACKGROUND: A cross-sectional, descriptive, questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Toulouse schools to determine the prevalence of food allergies among schoolchildren. OBJECTIVES: The first goal of the survey was to estimate the prevalence of food allergies. The second goal was to determine the main characteristics of the allergies. METHODS: The questionnaires (3500) were distributed in 150 classes in eight schools. The return rate was 77.6% (2716). RESULTS: Of the 192 (7.0%) questionnaires with a 'Yes' response (report of a food allergy), 182 were retained as reporting true food allergies (6.7%). The cumulative and point prevalences were 6.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.8-7.6] and 4.7% [95% CI 3.9-5.5], respectively. The point prevalences were 4.0% for the children aged 2-5 years, 6.8% for the children aged 6-10 years, and 3.4% for the children aged 11-14 years. The main foods reported as causing adverse reactions were cow milk (n = 29, 11.9%), eggs (n = 23, 9.4%), kiwis (n = 22, 9.0%), peanuts (n = 20, 8.2%), fish (n = 19, 7.8%), tree nuts (n = 19, 7.8%), and shrimp (n = 13, 5.3%). The average age at which the allergies were detected was 3.4+/-2.8 years (with a range of 0.1-12 years). The clinical signs of the food allergies were cutaneous (n=153, 62.7%), digestive (n = 74, 30.3%), respiratory (n = 17, 6.9%), and anaphylactic shock (n = 12, 4.9%). CONCLUSION: While well aware of the biases inherent in this type of study, we estimated the cumulative and point prevalences of food allergies in a population of school-age children in Toulouse at 6.7% and 4.7%, respectively. Cow milk, eggs, and peanuts were the main foods reported as causing allergies. Exotic fruits, shellfish, and tree nuts appeared to be relatively new allergens.

Actinidia↗

[What is the value of allergologic tests for the diagnosis and management of atopic dermatitis?].

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children has considerably increased in industrialised countries over the past 20-30 years. Determination of the interest of supplementary examinations, notably allergological explorations, is fundamental for all the practitioners who manage children suffering from the disease. ALLERGOLOGICAL TESTS: WHEN AND FOR WHO? Children suffering from eczema and describing concomitant manifestations such as urticaria, an oral syndrome or asthma should benefit from allergological tests. The latter are conducted as markers of the progression in the infant (aged under 24 months) presenting with atopic eczema without any concomitant manifestations. Such tests are aimed at defining the prognosis of AD and specifying the risk of progression towards an asthmatic syndrome. Allergological tests are conducted in the case of severe AD of early onset and in the presence of a family history of atopy. ALLERGOLOGICAL TESTS: WHICH? They explore immediate and delayed hypersensitivity. They include determination of IgE-dependent sensitivity using cutaneous tests or specific IgE measurements with validated methods. Allergy to food concerns very young children of around 2 years old. The diagnosis of such allergies is based on the efficacy of the eviction and oral provocation test, when there is discordance between the clinical history and the results of the determination of a specific IgE-related sensitivity. Prick-tests are performed to search for contact hypersensitivity, more frequent in older children. They are performed for contact allergens, aero-allergens and foodstuff and are supplemented by interrogation data. The pertinence of such tests remains to be determined. ALLERGOLOGICAL TESTS: WHAT FOR? An allergic factor enhances AD in one child out of two. Evictions adapted to the results of the allergological tests always improve the status of the children. They may even modify the natural history of the disease.

Child↗

Severe food anaphylaxis: 107 cases registered in 2002 by the Allergy Vigilance Network.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of food allergies increases, relating to diet modifications. The consumption of new foods--exotic foods or foods originally used for animal feed, new proteins, neo allergens due to the use of new technologies and soon, Genetically Modified Foods--are in the spotlight. OBJECTIVE: It is essential to develop a system of food allergy vigilance encompassing the full range of foods being consumed. Understanding this imperative leads logically to the suggestion of developing an allergy vigilance network taking advantage of the ongoing experience of allergists "on the ground". METHODS: The French Allergy Vigilance Network is subscribed to by 302 allergologists (267 of whom are French). The aims of the Network are to record cases of severe anaphylaxis, to establish an epidemiological data bank from prospective multicenter studies, and to monitor the allergic risk from novel foods. RESULTS: In 2002, 107 cases of severe anaphylaxis were recorded: anaphylactic shock--59.8% (one fatal), systemic reaction--18.7%, laryngeal angio-edema--15.9%, acute severe asthma--5.6% (one fatal). The main allergens identified were peanuts, nuts, shellfish, lupine flour and wheat flour. Action has been taken as a result: information by industry on inadequate labeling, withdrawal of wrongly labeled batches, and university hospital centers have been encouraged to establish the allergenic safety of their catering services. CONCLUSION: Setting up such a network in other countries would lead to a significant advance in knowledge of the peculiarities of allergies relating to a wide variety of eating habits.

Adult↗

[What is new in food allergy in 2003?].

Food allergies afflict 4-8% of the children and are associated with clinical and familial burdens. The management of food allergy was improved during the last year. Firstly, early diagnosis should lead to early proper treatment. Recommendations were done by the paediatricians group of the EAACI. Diagnosis and outcome of food allergies were improved by the predictive values of in vitro specific IgE testing. The cut-off level permits diagnosis and follow-up of these individual patients. Until newer therapies available, strict food avoidance is needed. Future therapies under investigation include the reduction of IgE by the infusion of anti-IgE antibodies, immunotherapy with mutated proteins or engineered hypoallergenic food. Murine model was developed, and results were encouraging. Intervention efforts must be instituted early in life and primary prevention of food allergy was stated.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

[Vaccination in children with egg allergy].

Vaccination of children who are allergic or assumed allergic to eggs still creates concern and complication for both the doctor and the patient. These concerns are based on a 1985 circular which has always been liberally interpreted and not well understood. Further analysis of the circular and a review of recent literature show, that most of the time, no special precautions need to be taken before vaccination of children with egg allergy.

Child↗

[Prevention of asthma and allergic diseases in children].

Allergic diseases have become a major public health problem in industrialized countries, justifying the development of prevention programs. A review of the literature on allergens and atopic symptoms, age of primary sensitization and other factors associated with allergic diseases development is presented and is followed by a discussion on prevention measures. The most recent physiopathological and immunological data indicate that persistent asthma and allergic diseases in adults may be associated with events in early childhood. The parallel increase in autoimmune and allergic diseases has been correlated with regulatory mechanism defects, contradicting the previous theory that involved a predominantly Th1 or Th2 pathway. The primary prevention of asthma and allergic diseases thus appear to be somewhat utopian. Indeed based on recent results, the risk of developing allergies appears to be related to modern "clean" lyfestyles. Secondary prevention is probably necessary, possibly through specific immunotherapy. Tertiary prevention must also be considered. Passive smoking must be prevented as it can alter the development of the respiratory system and promote allergen sensitization. Randomized, controlled, prospective studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the preventive measures.

Allergens↗

Cashew allergy: observations of 42 children without associated peanut allergy.

BACKGROUND: Cashew allergy seems to be increasingly frequent. The goal of the present study was to analyse the clinical features and results of investigations of 42 children with cashew allergy. METHODS: The clinical features and results of skin prick tests, specific IgE assays, and food challenges were analysed. RESULTS: The mean age at first allergic reaction was 2 years and the mean age at diagnosis of cashew allergy was 2.7 years. One in five children (12%) had a prior history of exposure to cashew nuts. Fifty-six per cent had skin symptoms, 25% had respiratory signs and 17% had digestive signs. Eighteen children had proven, associated food allergies (pistachio, seven; egg, five; mustard, three; shrimp, two; cow milk, one). The mean wheal diameter of the skin prick tests was 7 mm (3-16 mm) and the mean specific IgE level was 3.1 kUA/L (<0.35->100 kUA/L). Eight children had positive food challenges. CONCLUSION: The increase in cashew allergy is worrying because it affects young children who may have a reaction without ever having been exposed to cashews. Almost one-third of children are allergic to pistachios, which belong to the same botanical family as cashews. Clinical history is generally and sufficiently suggestive to diagnose cashew allergy without recourse to food challenges.

Anacardium↗

[Food allergy and asthma in children].

The links between food allergy and asthma are becoming more clear. The association of food allergy and asthma in the same child is unusual (less than 10% in atopic subjects). This association is however a sign of gravity leading to more severe manifestations of food allergy in asthmatic children. Compared with the non-asthmatic child, the asthmatic child has a 14-fold higher risk of developing a severe allergic reaction to the ingestion of food. The most commonly cited foods are fruits with a rind, cow's milk and, of course, nuts. Epidemiological data established from methodologically sound studies should enable a definition of the current allergic environment. Formal diagnosis is established with standardized tests. Treatment is oriented towards prevention associating a restricted diet, asthma control, patient education, and prescription of an emergency first aid kit with epinephrine. Supplementary inquiries are needed to determine the outcome in children with food allergy and respiratory symptoms.

Allergens↗