A selection of publications with educational value in
Clinical Allergy and Immunology

Most recently added articles listed first


  • Figure 1 of 10.1111/resp.14001
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    Infection risk in sarcoidosis patients treated with methotrexate compared to azathioprine: A retrospective ‘target trial’ emulated with Swedish real‐world data Marios Rossides; Susanna Kullberg; Daniela Di Giuseppe; Anders Eklund; Johan Grunewald; Johan Askling; Elizabeth V Arkema (DOI: 10.1111/resp.14001)
    onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.14001/full (Jan 2021)

    Comment by Dr Mark Lavercombe:
    In this paper, the authors apply a retrospective target trial emulation on a large dataset of patients with sarcoidosis from Sweden, to examine the difference in infection rates between those treated with methotrexate and azathioprine for their steroid-sparing effect. Their findings suggest an initial reduction in relative infection risk in those treated with methotrexate, although the difference reduced over time. Prospective data is needed to confirm this finding.

    20210422

  • (Click image to enlarge)
    Acute effects of e-cigarette vaping on pulmonary function and airway inflammation in healthy individuals and in patients with asthma Serafeim-Chrysovalantis Kotoulas, Athanasia Pataka, Kalliopi Domvri, Dionisios Spyratos, Paraskevi Katsaounou, Konstantinos Porpodis, Evangelia Fouka, Aikaterini Markopoulou, Katalin Passa-Fekete, Ioanna Grigoriou, Theodoros Kontakiotis, Paraskevi Argyropoulou and Despoina Papakosta
    onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.13806/full (October 2020)

    Comment by Dr Mark Lavercombe:
    The rapid escalation in 'vaping' using electronic nicotine delivery devices has not yet been matched by data demonstrating their safety. In a cohort of asthmatic patients taking regular inhaled corticosteroids, acute markers of airway inflammation and pulmonary function changed within five minutes of e-cigarette vaping and this did not occur in healthy controls. The authors discuss the implications for future research in both healthy subjects and patients with pre-existing obstructive lung diseases.

    20200917

  • Table 4 of 10.1111/resp. 13559
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    Real-life effectiveness of inhaler device switch from dry powder inhalers to pressurized metred-dose inhalers in patients with asthma treated with ICS/LABA Hae-Sim Park, Dukyong Yoon, Hyun Young Lee, Ga-Young Ban, Simon Wan Yau Ming, Joanna Ling Zhi Jie, Victoria Carter, Antony Hardjojo, Job F M Van Boven and David B Price (DOI: 10.1111/resp.13559)
    onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.13559/full (Oct 2019)

    Comment by Dr Mark Lavercombe:
    Selection of inhaler device is known to affect compliance in asthma patients. This study demonstrates that changing from one format to another can lead to significant improvement in outcomes and is generally accepted by the patients.

    20190916

  • (Click image to enlarge)
    Metformin is associated with a lower risk of active tuberculosis in patients with type 2 diabetes Shang-Yi Lin, Hung-Pin Tu, Po-Liang Lu, Tun-Chieh Chen, Wen-Hung Wang, Inn-Wen Chong and Yen-Hsu Chen
    onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.13338 (Nov 2018)

    Comment by Dr Mark Lavercombe:
    This population study examines the incidence of active tuberculosis diagnosis in a large population of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The authors demonstrate a significant protective effect in patients taking metformin, that is not seen with the use of other treatments including oral agents and insulin (despite improved glycaemic control). This suggests protection not only by improved glycaemic control but perhaps also via immune functions of metformin itself.

    20181016
  • Increasing awareness of sex differences in airway diseases. Raghavan and Jain.
    onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.12702/abstract (Dec 2015)

    20160819