Allergic Asthma

Asthmatic patients should be tested to identify allergic triggers

60% of asthmatic adults and up to

90% of asthmatic children have allergic triggers

Common symptoms include:

  • Cough
  • Dyspnea
  • Wheeze
  • Chest Tightness

When you identify a patient’s triggers, you can minimize exposure to allergens and reduce symptoms

NIH Asthma Guidelines

 

  • “Exposure of a person who has asthma to food and inhalant allergens to which the person is sensitive, increases airway inflammation and symptoms. Substantially reducing such exposure may significantly reduce inflammation, symptoms, and the need for medication.”
  • “For successful long-term management of asthma, it is essential to identify and reduce exposures to relevant allergens and irritants…”

Exposure reduction

improves asthma management

 – RESULTS OF AN NEJM STUDY –

Inner-City Asthma Study (ICAS). Controlled trial of environmental interventions (education and remediation) for exposure to allergens and environmental tobacco smoke. Symptom results per patient for intervention year and follow up year.

Unscheduled ED/office visits per year

Symptom days per year

Missed School days per year

2.1
21.3
4.4

Targeted exposure

reduction

reduces symptoms

Establishing a safe sleep zone

reduces symptoms

A practical and proven way to reduce environmental allergen load

Patients spend up to 90% of their time indoors.. 2/3 of that time in their homes

 

 

Allergen control measures in home settings, particularly the bedroom, have been proven effective in reducing symptoms

“The first and most important step in controlling allergen-induced asthma is to advise patients to reduce exposure to relevant indoor and outdoor
allergens to which the patient is sensitive”

- NIH Guidelines

Is it allergies or not?

Knowing makes a difference.

Different causes
can trigger the

same symptoms

Patients want real
relief from

their symptoms

Symptoms of allergic and

non-allergic causes are similar

  • cough

  • wheeze

  • dyspnea

  • chest tightness

Inhalant Allergic Triggers

  • Dust Mite

  • Cockroach

  • dog dander

  • cat dander

  • trees

  • weeds & grasses

  • molds

Non-Allergic Triggers

  • Cigarette
    Smoke

  • Air Pollution

  • Perfume

  • Temperature
    Change

  • Alcohol

  • infection

Easy to use

 

  • Simple in office fingerstick blood collection
  • Patients do not need to stop medications
  • Comprehensive respiratory profiles test for common inhalant and food allergens

Concise Reports

Lab reports are quantifiable and graphical on a single page. Reports contain Total IgE and a profile of 28 food allergens, 40 inhalant allergens or 68 combined food & inhalant allergens for unsurpassed positive and negative predictive values. Efficient for the clinician and educational for the patient.

The Allergenex

test results are in

What do I do now?

Make a plan

Positive specific IgE test results

  • Rule in/out atopy as the cause of allergic symptoms
  • Select appropriate targeted treatments for allergic or non-allergic rhinitis

Negative specific IgE test results

  • Explore other possible symptom causes
  • Use appropriate medications to address non-allergic etiologies

Educate the patient

Positive specific IgE test results

  • Stress the need to reduce exposure to the relevant allergens based on the patient’s documented sensitization
  • Encourage compliance with targeted medications to achieve symptom reliefn

Negative specific IgE test results

  • Point out to the patient that test results confirm antihistamines won’t work for his or her symptoms
  • Encourage compliance with targeted medications to achieve symptom relief

References

  • Lau J, et al. Am Fam Physician. 2003;67:705-706.
  • Wheeler PW, et al. Am Fam Physician. 2005;72:1057-1062.
  • Wallace DV, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2008;122(2 suppl):S1-S84.
  • Szeinbach SL, et al. J Manag Care Pharm. 2004;10(3):234-238.
  • Welsh N, et al. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2006;46:627.
  • AHRQ. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment Number 54. 2002. AHRQ publication 02-E023.
  • Diagnostic Clinical Information: The Value of Allergen Identification.Kalamazoo, MI: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company; 1998. Publication 98006.01.
  • Elward KS, et al. Asthma & Allergy. American Academy of Family Physicians; 2004.
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