Cetirizine is safe, well-tolerated, and may help prevent relapses in neuromyelitis optica.
Eculizumab may Prevent Inflammation in Eye Nerves and Spinal Cord Among Neuromyelitis Optica Patients: Mayo Clinic Research
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a new treatment for patients suffering from neuromyelitis optica, a central nervous system disorder.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a new treatment for patients suffering from neuromyelitis optica, a central nervous system disorder.
‘Addition of cetirizine, a popular allergy medication, to standard therapy is safe, well-tolerated, and may reduce relapses in patients with neuromyelitis optica.’
Why the Research Is Interesting: Current standard treatments for NMO have focused on lymphocytes; however, granulocyte infiltration has been shown to play an important role in NMO-related inflammatory destruction. In addition to its antihistaminic functions, cetirizine is known to have eosinophil-stabilizing properties. Cetirizine also has a myriad of effects on other immune system components, including inhibition of lymphocyte and monocyte chemotaxis. Animal model work demonstrated that the development of NMOSD-type lesions could be blocked with the administration of cetirizine, so it was exciting to see if it might be safe and effective for human NMO patients. Who: This pilot, open-label, add-on trial of cetirizine followed 16 NMO patients taking 10mg/day of orally administered cetirizine for one year.
When: Participants were enrolled/followed from April 2014- February 2016.
Breathe-in or Ingestible Antibody can Help Prevent Allergy, Asthma
The ingestible or inhalable antibody prevents allergic reactions and asthma in adults, by binding to molecules which would otherwise cause allergy.
The ingestible or inhalable antibody prevents allergic reactions and asthma in adults, by binding to molecules which would otherwise cause allergy.
How: Participants started cetirizine 10mg orally daily and continued for one year, in addition to their established NMOSD disease-modifying therapy. They were monitored for new neurologic episodes and potential adverse events related to the study drug. Formal relapse assessments as well as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were completed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.
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Children with Asthma or Food Allergy at Risk of Anxiety Disorder
Children suffering from chronic illnesses like asthma, food allergy, epilepsy, diabetes or juvenile arthritis are at risk of developing anxiety disorders.
Children suffering from chronic illnesses like asthma, food allergy, epilepsy, diabetes or juvenile arthritis are at risk of developing anxiety disorders.
Paper Title: Open-label, add-on trial of cetirizine for neuromyelitis optica
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Helminths Increase Risk of Allergy, Asthma in Humans
The intestinal worms that are usually found in animals but if found in humans, it increases the risk of allergies and asthma.
The intestinal worms that are usually found in animals but if found in humans, it increases the risk of allergies and asthma.
"We were pleased to find that cetirizine was safe and well-tolerated in our population of NMO patients. While the study's open-label design and small sample size preclude definitive conclusions, we did detect a signal that suggested cetirizine may be of benefit. We look forward to future research on this topic."
Source-Eurekalert
