Fasenra (benralizumab) for Eosinophilic Esophagitis was made a reality today, when the FDA granted it Orphan Drug Designation (ODD). The Orphan Drug Act (ODA) provides for granting special status to a drug or biological product (“drug”) to treat a rare disease or condition upon request of a sponsor. This status is referred to as orphan […]
Zithromax prophylaxis in immune deficient patients
Zithromax prophylaxis (250 mg once daily, 3 consecutive days a week), has been studied to decrease the frequency of annual episodes of respiratory exacerbation in primary immunodeficiency patients with frequent respiratory infections. Primary antibody deficiencies are considered rare diseases, but only 1% of subjects living with it actually receive a diagnosis. The spectrum of primary […]
Chronic Cough; Management and Diagnosis
People with chronic cough can experience significant quality of life impairment. Cough is a fundamental protective reflex that can become disordered and lead to a persistent symptom complex that limits quality of life. The assessment should consider whether it is a manifestation of a significant underlying disease such as pneumonia, cardiac failure or an exacerbation […]
Cat vaccine to prevent allergies in owners
A cat vaccine is being developed to decrease the amount of allergy that cats produce. Cats are found in about 25% of households in the United States and allergy to cats is found in approximately 10% of the population. The major cat allergen found in saliva and dander is called Fel d 1, and this […]
Auvi-Q 0.1 mg for infants and toddlers
Auvi-Q 0.1 mg is being used for children weighing 16.5 to 33 pounds. In a previous post we discussed this when it first came out. Auvi-Q 0.1 mg dose approved for infants and children The Auvi-Q 0.1 mg has a smaller needle length and there is less risk of hitting a bone, which could result […]
Early-life undernutrition and asthma
Early-life undernutrition is closely correlated with higher risk of asthma in offspring. The early life is critically important for later adult health. Early-life undernutrition leads to growth restriction and it can be responsible for impaired lung development and respiratory function from the fetal period to adulthood. Asthma involves chronic allergic airway inflammation characterized by airway […]
Dupixent for Hives
Dupixent for hives is novel treatment option for patients with difficult to treatment chronic spontaneous urticaria. Chronic hives is a common condition marked by episodes of elevated, itching, red wheals persisting for more than 6 weeks without a specific known cause. It is estimated that chronic hives affects about 1% of the population. The mechanism […]
Benralizumab (Fasenra) in asthma
Benralizumab (Fasenra) is an interleukin (IL)-5 receptor monoclonal antibody that induces direct, rapid and nearly complete depletion of eosinophils in the circulation. Benaralizumab is approved for use in Canada, Europe, Japan and the U.S. In the United States, it is indicated for the add-on treatment of patients with asthma aged 12 and up with an […]
Allergies and Medicare
Allergies affect so many people that they’re in the top 10 list of the most chronic illnesses in the county. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), a staggering 50 million Americans suffer from some form of allergies. Allergies may take the form of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), eczema, asthma, and […]
Will my child outgrow asthma?
Predicting whether a child will outgrow asthma has important implications for patients, parents and doctors. Past studies have estimated between 15% to 64% of patients with childhood asthma go into remission by early adulthood. In those studies asthma remission rates have been noted to vary widely by population, and remission has been associated with less […]