Browsing by Author "Sin A."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Sensitization to cat allergens in non-cat owner patients with respiratory allergy
    (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 2003) Gulbahar O.; Sin A.; Mete N.; Kokuludag A.; Kirmaz C.; Sebik F.
    Background: Cats represent one of the most important sources of indoor allergens. The sensitization rate can reach up to 60% in western countries. Keeping cats indoors is uncommon in big cities in Turkey, but cats living in the streets are common. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of sensitization to cats in patients with respiratory allergy from Izmir, Turkey, and its relationship to home cat allergen levels. Methods: A total of 387 patients (70.8% female; mean age, 34.3 years) with respiratory allergic diseases (rhinitis and/or asthma) were included in this study. Skin prick test to cat was performed. House dust samples were collected from the living room of 25 patients and 14 healthy subjects. The major cat allergen (Fel d 1) levels were measured by Dustscreen. Fel d 1 levels given by the manufacturer were as follows: 0.05, 0.13, 0.40, 1.1, and 6.2 mU/mL. Results: The prevalence of cat sensitivity was 44.7% (n = 173). Only 6 patients (1.6%) had a history of feeding a cat in their houses. Thirty-six (92%) of 39 houses had detectable levels of cat allergen (mean Fel d 1 level, 2.24 ± 2.69 mU/mL). The mean Fel d 1 levels were 1.58 ± 2.51 mU/mL in the healthy group, 1.91 ± 2.61 mU/mL in the asthmatic group, and 3.26 ± 2.85 mU/mL in the group with allergic rhinitis (P = 0.12). The prevalence of cat sensitivity in patients who had 1.1 mU/mL of Fel d 1 in their homes was 57.1%. This rate was five times lower (11.1%) in patients who had the highest Fel d 1 level (6.2 mU/mL) in their homes. Conclusions: The prevalence of cat sensitivity in Izmir, where cats are generally not kept within homes, is as high as in western countries. The sampled houses have measurable levels of Fel d 1 even in the absence of indoor cats. High prevalence of cat sensitivity in Izmir is probably due to indirect exposure.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Drug allergy in tertiary care in Turkey: Results of a national survey. The ADAPT study: Adult drug allergy perception in Turkey
    (Elsevier Doyma, 2014) Çelik G.E.; Karakaya G.; Öztürk A.B.; Gelincik A.; Abadoğlu T.; Sin A.; Damadoğlu E.; Yilmaz T.I.; Demirtürk M.; Dursun B.; Özdemir S.K.; Çelikel S.; Değirmenci P.; Bozkurt B.; Göksel T.; Erkekol F.; Aydin T.; Kavut A.B.; Kirmaz C.; Kalpaklioğlu F.; Büyüköztürk S.; Kalyoncu F.
    Background: No data are available on the incidence of drug hypersensitivity (DH) reactions in outpatient settings of tertiary allergy/immunology clinics. Our aims were to document the frequency of outpatient hospital admissions due to DH reactions to allergy/immunology clinics in adults and the management of these reactions in real life. We also investigated whether drug allergy affected social and medical behaviours of the patients. Methods: This multi-centre study was performed for one year with the participation of 11 out of 16 tertiary allergy/clinical immunology clinics in Turkey. The study group consisted of the patients with DH reactions. Results of a questionnaire including drug reactions and management were recorded. Results: Among 54,863 patients, 1000 patients with DH were enrolled with a median of 2.1% of all admissions. In real life conditions, the majority of approaches were performed for finding safe alternatives (65.5%; 1102 out of 1683) with 11.7% positivity. Diagnostic procedures were positive in 27% (154/581) of the patients. The majority of the patients had higher VAS scores for anxiety. A total of 250 subjects (25%) reported that they delayed some medical procedures because of DH. Conclusion: Our results documented the frequency of admissions due to DH reactions to allergy/clinical immunology clinics for the first time. Although physicians mostly preferred to perform drug tests in order to find safe alternatives, considering the fact that DH was confirmed in 27% of the patients, use of diagnostic tests should be encouraged, if no contraindication exists in order to avoid mislabelling patients as DH. © 2013 SEICAP.