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Non-Infectious Complications of Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Posted By: 
Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
September 21, 2021
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common type of symptomatic primary immune deficiency disorder, affecting approximately 1 out of every 25,000 persons. The most recent guidelines suggest CVID in the presence of the following: low immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels, based on age; either low IgM or IgA; poor antibody response after vaccination; older than 4 years of age; and no secondary causes of hypogammaglobulinemia. Secondary causes of hypogammaglobulinemia can include liver dis... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
Diagnosis and Management of Hereditary Angioedema
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
September 17, 2021
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal-dominant disorder caused by deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). It is estimated that HAE affects 1 out... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
What to Do With Patients who Report Allergic Symptoms Following the First Dose of an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
July 16, 2021
A major concern to public health officials is incomplete vaccination with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. One reason for incomplete vaccination is if patie... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine
A New Biologic on the Horizon for Severe Asthma
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
July 09, 2021
There are currently 5 available monoclonal antibody treatments for patients with moderate to severe asthma, all of which target immunoglobulin E (IgE) or typ... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
Identification and Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
April 09, 2021
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has an estimated prevalence of up to 5% of the population. By definition, CRS is a chronic inflammatory condition of the paranas... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
Contact Dermatitis Diagnosis and Management: When to Refer for Patch Testing
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
April 06, 2021
Contact dermatitis (CD) is a relatively common inflammatory skin condition, grouped with occupational skin disease. CD usually presents with erythematous and... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
Using Biologic Therapy for Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Posted By: 
Kristine Kucera, PA-C, MPAS, DHS
April 02, 2021
As mentioned in my previous post this week, atopic dermatitis (AD) affects more than 9.6 million children and about 16.5 million adults in the United States.... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Dermatology
The Atopic Triad: Why It’s So Important to Collaborate With Colleagues
Posted By: Kristine Kucera, PA-C, MPAS, DHS
March 30, 2021
As spring approaches, there is an entire subset of seasonal medical problems that can affect our patients. Especially in dermatology, it is quite common at t... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Dermatology
Stinging Insect Allergy
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
January 29, 2021
Stinging insect allergy accounts for 10% of all cases of anaphylaxis. Stings from flying hymenopterans and fire ants are responsible for most cases. Approxim... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES)
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
January 26, 2021
Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non–immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated food allergy that typically presents in infants. The most commo... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
Management of Severe T2-High Asthma
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
December 04, 2020
Many patients with asthma have type 2 inflammation. Type 2 inflammation, also known as T2-high asthma, is driven by presence of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
Diagnostics in Food Allergy
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
December 02, 2020
Food allergy is a growing public health concern and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. The most common food allergens—milk, egg, soy, wheat, peanut, t... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Public Health
Will You Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, DMSc, MPA, PA-C
November 27, 2020
In a post earlier this week, I wrote about public skepticism concerning COVID-19 vaccines, with some surveys showing an estimated 50-50 split in terms of whe... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Health Policy and Trends, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Trials: Reality Check
Posted By: Lawrence Herman, DMSc, MPA, PA-C
November 24, 2020
There is both good and bad news with respect to the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trials. As a preface, know that approximately 90% of vaccine trials fail to lead... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
July 24, 2020
Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), also called chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), is a condition when urticaria, or hives, are present for more than 6 wee... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Dermatology
Why Your Patient Probably Isn’t Allergic to Penicillin
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
July 17, 2020
Drug allergies are documented in more than 20% of electronic health records throughout the world, with antibiotic allergies being the most commonly reported.... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
Would You Volunteer to Enroll in a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial?
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, PA-C, MPA
July 10, 2020
There are more than 160 COVID-19 vaccines currently in development, with the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccine (an attenuated altered adenovir... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Public Health
Asthma Q&A With Dr Kurtis Elward: Part 2
Posted By: 
Kurtis S. Elward, MD, MPH
June 30, 2020
PCE recently held our Series 1 Live Stream events. During the Live Streams, attendees have the chance to ask expert faculty specific questions, though we oft... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
Asthma Q&A With Dr Kurtis Elward: Part 1
Posted By: Kurtis S. Elward, MD, MPH
June 26, 2020
PCE recently held our Series 1 Live Stream events. During the Live Streams, attendees have the chance to ask expert faculty specific questions, though we oft... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine
Measles and Immunity
Posted By: 
Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
November 19, 2019
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness, currently targeted for eradication given the favorable biologic characteristic that humans are the only reservo... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Diseases
Universal Influenza Vaccine Begins Phase I Clinical Trials
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C
April 09, 2019
The National Institutes of Health have begun the first clinical trial of an innovative universal influenza vaccine candidate. A Phase I trial will examine th... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Health Policy and Trends, Public Health