September Newletter

Asthma Action Plans

With the fall season underway, the staff at Baker Allergy, Asthma and Dermatology Center have been preparing our patients for the upcoming school year with regard to asthma and allergy education. As fall is upon us, so is the cold and flu season. If you or your child has a diagnosis of asthma that is triggered by upper respiratory infections it is important to have the tools to detect increase in asthma symptoms (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest retractions), along with the medications to treat these signs and symptoms.

An asthma action plan can be very helpful with treating patients who have asthma symptoms with upper respiratory infections by temporarily increasing or adding an extra medication for a few weeks to prevent complications. Additional asthma triggers that are often seen with the fall and winter seasons are dust and mold allergies, exercise and cold air exposure. If you feel an asthma action plan would be beneficial for you or your child, please contact us at 503 636-9011.

You can find more information about environmental controls for allergies to dust and mold on our website, http://www.bakeraad.com/ or http://www.AAAAI.org.

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Psoriasis Study

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that typically affects the outside of the elbows, knees or scalp, however it may appear on any location. One of the most common forms of psoriasis is called plaque psoriasis. It causes raised, red patches covered with a silvery white layer of dead skin cells. Some people report that psoriasis itches, burns and stings[1].

It is reported that at least 10 percent of the general population inherits one or more of the genes that create a predisposition to psoriasis. However, only 2 percent to 3 percent of this population develops the disease. Researchers believe that for a person to develop psoriasis, the individual must have a combination of the genes that cause psoriasis and be exposed to specific external factors known as "triggers". These triggers can include; stress, injury or trauma to the skin and some types of medications. Psoriasis can also flare following a strep throat infection, earache, bronchitis, tonsillitis or a respiratory infection. Basically, anything that can affect the immune system can affect psoriasis[1].

The severity of psoriasis is not only measured by how much area of the body is affected, but also by how psoriasis affects a person's quality of life. There are a variety of ways to treat psoriasis, including; topical medications, systemic medications, biologic drugs, phototherapy treatment and alternatives therapies[1].

The Baker Research Center is currently offering a study to research a topical medication that has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis in adults 18 years or older. If you or someone you know has had psoriasis for over 6 months and would like more information regarding this study please notify Emily Widen or Angie Johnson at 503 534-2622.

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1. National Psoriasis Foundation (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2013 from https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis

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Cat Allergy Study

Allergy to cat dander is one of the most common forms of allergic rhinitis. In the United States alone, over 26 million people suffer from cat allergies[1]. Those with a cat allergy who live with cats may experience many unpleasant symptoms, such as itching, sneezing, nasal congestion, and watery eyes. One of the most effective forms of treatment for cat allergies is specific immunotherapy. Specific immunotherapy for cat allergies provides a long term benefit by boosting the immune system against cat specific proteins.

One of the largest downsides of immunotherapy is the potential risk of allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. The Baker Research Center is participating in a study that looks to overcome this risk by using an alternate formula for immunotherapy. This new study drug improves upon traditional immunotherapy by using molecules significantly smaller than those found in regular immunotherapy. Essentially, they are little fragments of the normal allergen. These fragments, called peptides, are too small to contain multiple allergy antibody binding sites. Thus, only a single allergy antibody can bind them. This prevents cross-bridging, which may lead to anaphylaxis. Since they can still be bound by an allergy antibody but not cross-bridged, the peptides boost the immune system without large risk of an adverse reaction.

The goal of the cat allergy study is to prove that use of the new investigational immunotherapy drug helps safely reduce symptoms of cat allergy and reduces dependence on allergy medication. The study lasts for approximately one year. During this time, study subjects will receive 8 doses of study drug, placebo, or both. Study subjects will record their symptoms and medication use for a few weeks during the year, and the results will be compared between placebo and non-placebo groups. In order to qualify for the study, patients must be 12-65 years of age, experience symptoms when exposed to cats, live with a cat that is indoors for more than 8 hours each day, and not have any severe asthma, food allergies, or dust and mold allergies.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this study, please contact our research department at 503 534-2622.

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1. World Allergy Organization. The global epidemiology of allergy. White Book on Allergy, 2011.