Coronavirus Press Release
Allergy has published the second key paper on coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
Again the long term collaboration and know-how enabled this paper this time particularly aiming to help the doctors in daily patient care. The same team has published the first 140 cases of community acquired COVID disease and identified the reasons for severity almost 5 weeks ago. Prof. Akdis from SIAF and Prof. Gao from Wuhan act as senior authors of the new paper. Prof. Gao was working in Davos, Switzerland, but was called back to Wuhan when the outbreak became a public health problem. He is one of the proud doctors who had fought in the ward for two months for the success against coronavirus in Wuhan which decreased the number of new cases from 5000s per day to only a few per day. Prof Akdis says, “we aimed to describe, in this paper, the various clinical presentations of this disease by deeply examining eleven representative cases of its eleven faces. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic cases to patients with mild and severe symptoms, with or without pneumonia.”
Particularly, asymptomatic virus carriers and patients who clinically fully heal, but still carry the virus and may infect others represent two key groups to fully control the spread of the disease. Cases with pre-existing lung condition such as chronic obstructive lung disease and patients who develop secondary bacterial pneumonia represent the most severe cases. Patients with preexisting allergic diseases such as rhinitis, neurodermitis and urticaria did not develop a severe disease. The authors and many worldwide top scientists think that all different clinical characteristics of COVID-19 should be taken into consideration to identify patients for the efficient containment of the pandemic and to develop novel prevention and treatment strategies.
You can read the article here.
Allergy has published the first key paper on the coronavirus disease.
Wuhan University, Departments of Allergology, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and Radiology published together with the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) the clinical characteristics of 140 patients infected by Wuhan Corona Virus (COVID-19) (here). The article appeared online today in Allergy, the official Journal of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. As of today, globally, 75,204 cases were confirmed, including 74,280 cases in China and 924 cases outside of China. 2006 patients have died from now officially named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus -2 infection.
The study reports randomly selected and community acquired 140 hospitalized COVID-19 cases. Male female ratio was 1:1 and median age was 57. None of the cases were related to Huanan wet market of wild animals. They were diagnosed by PCR test for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2). Main symptoms at admission were fever (91.7%), cough (75.0%), fatigue (75.0%), gastrointestinal symptoms (39.6%) and chest tightness or dyspnea (36.7%).
Hypertension (30.0%) and diabetes mellitus (12.1%) were the most common comorbidities. Since many of the severe virus infections take place in asthma and COPD patients, investigation of asthma, allergies and COPD were specifically focused. Interestingly, asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food allergy were not reported by any of the patients and COPD was only in 1.4 % of the patients. Asthma prevalence is 4.2 %, allergic rhinitis is 9.7 % and COPD is 13.7 % in the same age group in China, suggesting that Coronavirus pneumonia is not specifically selecting these patients. In addition, active smokers were only 1.4% of the COVID-19 cases which is the habit of 27.3 % of the individuals in China.
As a rapid diagnosis criteria before virus-specific tests are finalized, which may suggest immediate isolation of the patients, lymphopenia (75.4%) and eosinopenia (52.9%) were observed in patients. 58 of the 140 patients (41.4%) were severely affected in their lungs. Severe cases were elder patients, with more comorbidities, and with higher levels of acute phase reactants, CRP, procalcitonin and D-Dimer.
Editor in Chief of Allergy, Prof. Dr. Cezmi Akdis the Director of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) comments that this study reports the cases as detailed and as up to date as possible, which will be helpful to isolate the patients early enough to avoid the dissemination of the epidemics. Sharing detailed patient information as fast as possible with the public and scientific community will certainly help to inform the doctors to be prepared for early and rapid diagnosis of the suspected cases, taking the measures for patient isolation and identification of the severe cases.
The authors acknowledge all of the healthcare professionals, who helped and took care of the patients with COVID-19 for their great effort and their selfless dedication in the medical operation against SARS-CoV-2.
Cezmi Akdis
akdisac@siaf.uzh.ch
Editor in Chief of Allergy, Prof. Dr. Cezmi Akdis the Director of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) comments that this study reports the cases as detailed and as up to date as possible, which will be helpful to isolate the patients early enough to avoid the dissemination of the epidemics. Sharing detailed patient information as fast as possible with the public and scientific community will certainly help to inform the doctors to be prepared for early and rapid diagnosis of the suspected cases, taking the measures for patient isolation and identification of the severe cases.
The authors acknowledge all of the healthcare professionals, who helped and took care of the patients with COVID-19 for their great effort and their selfless dedication in the medical operation against SARS-CoV-2.
Cezmi Akdis
akdisac@siaf.uzh.ch
Obituary COVID-19
We dedicate this Issue of Allergy to the countless healthcare professionals who are putting their lives at risk every day in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, many doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals have passed away, particularly during the early days of the pandemic when there was limited personal protection equipment and missing awareness of the highly contagious nature of the virus.
COVID-19 has claimed the life of a large number of healthcare professionals, many are listed in our website and named in this picture. We would like that science and solidarity in the world prevails forever and that a scientific approach is always taken in any such threats to humanity.
Articles
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Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) 2008 update (in collaboration with the World Health Organization, GA(2)LEN and AllerGen)
Bousqet et al.
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The global burden of asthma: executive summary of the GINA Dissemination Committee Report
Masoli et al.
Citations: 1258
A revised nomenclature for allergy - An EAACI position statement from the EAACI nomenclature task force
Johansson et al.
Citations: 723
Benefits of omalizumab as add-on therapy in patients with severe persistent asthma who are inadequately controlled despite best available therapy (GINA 2002 step 4 treatment): INNOVATE
Humbert, M. et al.
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The EAACI/GA(2)LEN/EDF/WAO Guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria: the 2013 revision and update
Zuberier, T. et al.
Citations: 634
Specific immunotherapy has long-term preventive effect of seasonal and perennial asthma: 10-year follow-up on the PAT study
Jacobsen, L. et al.
Citations: 540
Sublingual immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis: systematic review and meta-analysis
Wilson, D. R. et al.
Citations: 377
Clinical characteristics of 140 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China
Zhang et al.
Citations: 45
Distinct characteristics of COVID-19 patients with initial rRT-PCR-positive and rRT-PCR-negative results for SARS-CoV-2
Zhang et al.
Citations: 42
COVID-19 in a designated infectious diseases hospital outside Hubei Province, China
Cai et al.
Citations: 22
Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and mechanisms of immunopathological changes in COVID-19
Azkur et al.
Surface expression of MRGPRX2 on resting basophils: An area of controversy
Vito Sabato et al.
Dietary diversity and childhood asthma—Dietary acid load, an additional nutritional variable to consider
Pedro Cunha et al.
Reply to: Dietary diversity and childhood asthma ‐ Dietary acid load, an additional nutritional variable to consider
Carina Venter et al.
Reply to Sabato V et al “Surface expression of MRGPRX2 expression on resting basophils: An area of controversy”
Bettina Wedi et al.
Basophil Activation Test : A diagnostic, predictive and monitoring assay for Allergen Immunotherapy
Oral Alpan et al.
Pollen induce reactivation of latent herpesvirus and differentially affect infected and uninfected murine macrophages
Jan Dominik Speidel et al.
β2-Adrenergic Agonists do not improve Physical Performance in Healthy Individuals
Ana Cardoso et al.
Vitamin A controls the allergic response through T follicular helper cell as well as plasmablast differentiation
Josephine Scholz et al.
Biomarkers for diagnosis and prediction of therapy responses in allergic diseases and asthma
Heimo Breiteneder et al.
Thirty-six COVID-19 cases preventively vaccinated with mumps-measles-rubella vaccine: all mild course
Désirée E. Larenas-Linnemann et al.
The EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis and management of urticaria
Zuberier et al.
A compendium answering 150 questions on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2
Riggioni et al.
Intranasal corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis in COVID-19 infected patients: An ARIA-EAACI statement
Bousqet et al.
Advanced forecasting of SARS-CoV-2-related deaths in Italy, Germany, Spain, and New York State
Sotgui et al.
Is global BCG vaccination-induced trained immunity relevant to the progression of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic?
Gursel et al.
COVID-19, chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases and eosinophils – Observations from reported clinical case series
Jesenak et al.
Considerations on Biologicals for Patients with allergic disease in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: an EAACI Statement
Vultaggio et al.
COVID-19 pandemic: Practical considerations on the organization of an allergy clinic – an EAACI/ARIA Position Paper
Pfaar et al.
Diagnosis and management of the drug hypersensitivity reactions in Coronavirus disease 19
Gelincik et al.
Immunology of COVID-19: mechanisms, clinical outcome, diagnostics and perspectives – a report of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)
Sokolowska et al.
Eosinopenia is associated with greater severity in patients with coronavirus disease 2019
Zhao et al.
Low prevalence of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease among intensive care unit patients with COVID-19
Avdeev et al.
Antibodies in serum of convalescent patients following mild COVID-19 do not always prevent virus receptor binding
Gattinger et al.
COVID-19 in Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI) patients: clinical features, impact of comorbidities and treatments
Heffler et al.
SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 protein expression in serum is significantly associated with age
Pavel et al.
Cabbage and fermented vegetables: from death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19
Bousquet et al.
Cross-sectional pilot study exploring the feasibility of a rapid SARS-CoV-2 immunization test in health and non-healthcare workers
Escribese et al.
BCG vaccination and socioeconomic variables vs COVID-19 global features: clearing up a controversial issue
Ventura et al.
September 2020 - Climate Change
Volume 75 | Issue 9
Special Issue S109 - Abstracts from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Digital Congress, 06–08 June 2020
Volume 75 | Issue S109
Special Issue: Perspectives in Allergen Immunotherapy: 2019 and Beyond
Volume 74 | Issue S108
In-vivo diagnostic test allergens in Europe: A call to action and proposal for recovery plan—An EAACI position paper
Klimek et al.
The need for clean air: The way air pollution and climate change affect allergic rhinitis and asthma
Eguiluz-Gracia et al.
Epicutaneous sensitization in the development of food allergy: What is the evidence and how can this be prevented?
Brough et al.
The effects of climate change on respiratory allergy and asthma induced by pollen and mold allergens
D’Amato et al.
The pseudoallergen receptor MRGPRX2 on peripheral blood basophils and eosinophils: Expression and function
Wedi et al.
Junior Members Corner
EAACI JMs come from all corners of the globe, and have been making significant contributions to the field of allergy. Read about some of their accolades here!
The International Severe Asthma Forum (ISAF) Digital 2020
Dear Junior Members,
Due to the pandemic, the upcoming EAACI meetings are going to be digital. Do not miss the opportunity to attend them safely from your home/working place! The International Severe Asthma Forum (ISAF) Digital 2020 is a focused meeting that covers aspects of severe asthma going from basic immunologic pathways to the latest biological therapies. It will take place on October 24. Junior Members are exempted from registration fees and abstract submission is still open. Click here for more information.
Enjoy the EAACI digital meetings!
Due to the pandemic, the upcoming EAACI meetings are going to be digital. Do not miss the opportunity to attend them safely from your home/working place! The International Severe Asthma Forum (ISAF) Digital 2020 is a focused meeting that covers aspects of severe asthma going from basic immunologic pathways to the latest biological therapies. It will take place on October 24. Junior Members are exempted from registration fees and abstract submission is still open. Click here for more information.
Enjoy the EAACI digital meetings!
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis 2020 (FAAM) and the European Consortium on Application of Flow Cytometry in Allergy 2020 (EUROBAT)
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Meeting (FAAM) will be held in conjunction with the European Consortium on Application of Flow Cytometry in Allergy (EuroBAT). The FAAM–EuroBAT digital 2020 will take place from October 16 to 17. This joint meeting will cover the the latest clinical and scientific findings on food allergy and anaphylaxis, and the application of BAT in food allergy, drug allergy as well as other mixed topics plus. You can submit your abstract until August 20 and registration fee for Junior Members is reduced to 50 euros. Click here for more information.
Enjoy the EAACI digital meetings!
Enjoy the EAACI digital meetings!
