"We found that adding vitamin D substantially reduced the production of the protein driving the allergic response and also increased production of the protein that promotes tolerance," said Dr. Kolls, who also is professor and chair of genetics at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans. "Based on our results, we have strong rationale for a clinical trial of vitamin D to determine whether it can prevent or treat ABPA in patients with cystic fibrosis."
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide), according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
"These important findings by Dr. Kolls' team add to the growing body of evidence showing that vitamin D may play a critical role on immune responses and allergic diseases," said Juan Celedon, M.D., Dr.P.H., chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital.
Sunday
Hay feve begins around the middle of August
Ragweed allergy season can be even more miserable for those with dog, cat or dust mite allergies, according to new research. These year-round allergies appear to "pre-prime" the immune system so symptoms hit harder, according to a study recently published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
Hay fever (known as seasonal allergic rhinitis) begins around the middle of August, when ragweed blooms. The typical symptoms sneezing, itching, stuffy nose and watery eyes can make sufferers miserable. Hay fever sufferers who also are allergic to cats, dogs or dust mites develop symptoms faster and (early on) more severely, the research suggests. Treating the cat, dog or dust mite allergy year round may help make the hay fever more manageable.
"People with hay fever react differently when ragweed allergy season arrives. Some start sneezing right away, and others don't, so we wanted to determine what makes certain people develop symptoms more quickly," said allergist Anne K. Ellis, MD, lead author of the study and an ACAAI member. "We tested a number of common perennial allergens and found that having an allergy to cats, dogs or dust mites sets hay fever sufferers up for faster onset of symptoms when exposed to ragweed."
The study included 123 people allergic to ragweed. Of those, 66 percent tested positive for cat allergies, 63 percent tested positive for dog allergies and 73 percent tested positive for dust mite allergies. All were exposed to ragweed for three hours in a special controlled room called the Environmental Exposure Unit (at Kingston General Hospital, Ontario), and completed symptom questionnaires every 30 minutes during exposure.
"On average, those who tested positive for cat, dog or dust mite allergies developed symptoms either faster than, or to a greater degree than those who tested negative for those allergies," said Dr. Ellis. "The differences seen at 90 minutes of exposure were less dramatic after 3 hours of exposure, however. That suggests that once the hay fever season is in full swing, the symptom differences between those with cat, dog or dust mite allergies and those without no longer exist."
To avoid the more intense early reaction, people with cat, dog and dust mite allergies should try to limit their exposure to those allergens before ragweed season starts, said Dr. Ellis. Because that often is not practical when it comes to family pets, an alternative is to treat their cat, dog or dust-mite allergies, she said.
"Allergy immunizations or year-round allergy medication can provide hay fever relief to those sufferers who have ongoing symptoms from cats, dogs or dust mites, even if they think the symptoms are mild and easily tolerated," said Neil Kao, MD, chair of the ACAAI Rhinitis/Sinusitis Committee. "They'll likely find ragweed allergy season easier to endure if they're treating their perennial allergies."
Those who suspect they have hay fever or other allergies should get tested by an allergist a doctor who is expert in diagnosing and treating allergies and asthma.
Hay fever (known as seasonal allergic rhinitis) begins around the middle of August, when ragweed blooms. The typical symptoms sneezing, itching, stuffy nose and watery eyes can make sufferers miserable. Hay fever sufferers who also are allergic to cats, dogs or dust mites develop symptoms faster and (early on) more severely, the research suggests. Treating the cat, dog or dust mite allergy year round may help make the hay fever more manageable.
"People with hay fever react differently when ragweed allergy season arrives. Some start sneezing right away, and others don't, so we wanted to determine what makes certain people develop symptoms more quickly," said allergist Anne K. Ellis, MD, lead author of the study and an ACAAI member. "We tested a number of common perennial allergens and found that having an allergy to cats, dogs or dust mites sets hay fever sufferers up for faster onset of symptoms when exposed to ragweed."
The study included 123 people allergic to ragweed. Of those, 66 percent tested positive for cat allergies, 63 percent tested positive for dog allergies and 73 percent tested positive for dust mite allergies. All were exposed to ragweed for three hours in a special controlled room called the Environmental Exposure Unit (at Kingston General Hospital, Ontario), and completed symptom questionnaires every 30 minutes during exposure.
"On average, those who tested positive for cat, dog or dust mite allergies developed symptoms either faster than, or to a greater degree than those who tested negative for those allergies," said Dr. Ellis. "The differences seen at 90 minutes of exposure were less dramatic after 3 hours of exposure, however. That suggests that once the hay fever season is in full swing, the symptom differences between those with cat, dog or dust mite allergies and those without no longer exist."
To avoid the more intense early reaction, people with cat, dog and dust mite allergies should try to limit their exposure to those allergens before ragweed season starts, said Dr. Ellis. Because that often is not practical when it comes to family pets, an alternative is to treat their cat, dog or dust-mite allergies, she said.
"Allergy immunizations or year-round allergy medication can provide hay fever relief to those sufferers who have ongoing symptoms from cats, dogs or dust mites, even if they think the symptoms are mild and easily tolerated," said Neil Kao, MD, chair of the ACAAI Rhinitis/Sinusitis Committee. "They'll likely find ragweed allergy season easier to endure if they're treating their perennial allergies."
Those who suspect they have hay fever or other allergies should get tested by an allergist a doctor who is expert in diagnosing and treating allergies and asthma.
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