Two large trials, DREAM and MENSA have found IL-5 therapy with mepolizumab to lower risk of exacerbation in patients with asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype.
A systemic review was performed evaluating 31 studies that examined the association between indoor dampness, mold and the outcomes of nasal allergies and conjunctivitis. The most strongly related factor was mold odor. Significant association was also found for visible mold. The strong link to mold odor suggests that microbial causes are important. Indoor allergens and odors are important contributors to respiratory illness. The importance of odors as triggers for rhinitis and asthma is well known. Avoidance parameters should be given to patients to include: keeping humidity low, 35% if possible and allowing adequate ventilation. Indoor plants should be limited and live Christmas trees should be avoided. Avoiding foam rubber pillows and mattress as they can become moldy. Lastly, HEPA air cleaners can remove mold spores from the air.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Two large trials, DREAM and MENSA have found IL-5 therapy with mepolizumab to lower risk of exacerbation in patients with asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype.
Mold allergy is difficult to diagnose due to lack of standardized test material.
The current standard for diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is endoscopy with esophageal biopsy to determine the eosinophil count
Skin prick testing and serum IgE measurement are limited in their ability to predict positive or negative responses to oral peanut challenge.
Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) has been shown to result in significant improvements in a number of asthma control measures in three randomized clinical trials in patients with moderate-to-severe, persistent asthma.
Recent studies have suggested that early regular exposure to allergenic foods may reduce the risk of food allergy.