Committee Chair
Stephanie Dramburg

Members

Stefano del Giacco
Liam O'Mahony:
Matteo Bonini
Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa
Oscar Palomares
Carmen Riggioni
Maria Torres
Peter Schmid - Grendelmeier
Jose Maria Olaguibel
Barbara Rogala

29 July 2020
Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin vaccination and socioeconomic variables vs COVID‐19 global features: Clearing up a controversial issue

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assessing at the global level the impact of BCG vaccination on COVID‐19 outcomes by integrating a wide set of social, economic, geographic, and demographic controls, thus attenuating if not eliminating altogether the effects of possible confounding factors affecting previous studies on BCG and COVID‐19."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14524

27 July 2020
COVID‐19 in severe asthmatic patients during ongoing treatment with biologicals targeting type 2 inflammation: Results from a multicenter Italian survey

"(...) Even if this study does not allow any definitive conclusion on the association between severe asthma, biological therapy, and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, it might suggest that severe asthma patients during ongoing treatment with biologicals targeting type 2 inflammation may not have an increased risk for COVID‐19, in comparison with age‐ and geography‐matched nonasthmatic population."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14516

 27 July 2020
Distinct effects of asthma and COPD comorbidity on disease expression and outcome in patients with COVID‐19

"(...) for the first time, we discovered distinct effects of asthma and COPD comorbidity on the development of severe COVID‐19, which may be associated with different ACE2 protein expression in lower airways."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14517

14 July 2020
Clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics and risk factors for severity and mortality of 289 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients

"Survived severe and non‐survived COVID‐19 patients had distinct clinical and laboratory characteristics, which were separated by principle component analysis. Elder age, increased number of affected lobes, higher levels of serum CRP, chest tightness/dyspnea, and smoking history were risk factors for mortality of severe COVID‐19 patients. Longitudinal changes of laboratory findings may be helpful in predicting disease progression and clinical outcome of severe patients."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14496

13 July 2020
SARS‐CoV‐2, COVID‐19, skin and immunology ‐ what do we know so far?

"In order to update information gained, we provide a systematic overview of the skin lesions described in COVID‐19 patients, discuss potential causative factors and describe differential diagnostic evaluations. Moreover, we summarize current knowledge about immunologic, clinical and histologic features of virus‐ as well as drug‐induced lesions of the skin and changes to the vascular system in order to transfer this knowledge to potential mechanisms induced by SARS‐CoV‐2."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14498

03 July 2020
COVID‐19 and asthma, the good or the bad?

"In summary, we have seen a new zoonotic coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, infection that has had a devastating effect on the host immunity via the inhibition of interferons leading to aberrant innate immune response, macrophage inflammation in releasing a cytokine storm and exhaustion of the cellular immunity of T lymphocytes.9 Fortunately, due to chronic and sustained type 2 immune inflammation in the lungs of asthmatic patients, or by the medications they use for asthma control, it seems asthma may not be a major confounding disease in COVID‐19 infection, and this unexpected phenomenon may shed a new light on finding therapies or preventative strategies for SARS‐CoV‐2."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14480

26 June 2020
COVID‐19: A series of important recent clinical and laboratory reports in immunology and pathogenesis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and care of allergy patients

"The “coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)” outbreak was first reported in December 2019 (China). Since then, this disease has rapidly spread across the globe and in March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID‐19 pandemic.1 Since the outbreak was first announced, our journal has extensively focused on the clinical features, outcomes, diagnosis, immunology, and pathogenesis of COVID‐19 and its infectious agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2).."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14472

26 June 2020
ARIA‐EAACI statement on Asthma and COVID‐19

"An ARIA-EAACI statement has been devised to make recommendations on asthma, and not necessarily on severe asthma, based on a consensus from its members."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/all.14471

22 June 2020
Immunology of COVID‐19: mechanisms, clinical outcome, diagnostics and perspectives – a report of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)

"We also summarize known and potential SARS‐CoV‐2 receptors on epithelial barriers, immune cells, endothelium and clinically involved organs such as lung, gut, kidney, cardiovascular and neuronal system. Finally, we discuss the known and potential mechanisms underlying the involvement of comorbidities, gender and age in development of COVID‐19. Consequently, we highlight the knowledge gaps and urgent research requirements to provide a quick roadmap for ongoing and needed COVID‐19 studies."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14462

22 June 2020
Telemedicine allows quantitative measuring of olfactory dysfunction in COVID‐19

"For the first time, quantitative psychophysical analyses of olfaction were performed over a full course of COVID-19 in this homogenous cohort of relatively young adults, while previous studies used self-ratings, only. It is well accepted that self-ratings largely underestimate olfactory dysfunction. Usually required face-to-face contact seems to cause this systematic error, while telemedicine consultations allows safe testing for patients and staff. The comprehensive impairment without nasal symptoms supports the suggestion of a neurotropic and neuro-invasive virus that is site-specific for the olfactory system using angiotensin-converting-enzyme-receptor-2 (ACE2) for intracellular invasion."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14467

20 June 2020
The role of peripheral blood eosinophil counts in COVID‐19 patients

"The majority of COVID‐19 patients (71.7%) had a decrease in circulating EOS counts, which was significantly more frequent than other types of pneumonia patients. EOS counts had good value for COVID‐19 prediction, even higher when combined with NLR. Patients with low EOS counts at admission were more likely to have fever, fatigue and shortness of breath, with more lesions in chest CT and radiographic aggravation, longer length of hospital stay and course of disease than those with normal EOS counts."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14465

16 June 2020
Eosinopenia is associated with greater severity in patients with coronavirus disease 2019

"Based on accumulating data, patients with severe COVID-19 show a trend towards eosinopenia, which raises the concern whether eosinopenia is associated with the disease severity. Eosinophil, initially identified as a key effector cell of allergy, has now been demonstrated to possess antiviral capacities and serve to amply immune response and thus dampen inflammation. It is currently not known whether COVID-19 patients with eosinopenia are also more likely to develop into critically illness. This updated analysis aimed to investigate the association between eosinopenia and COVID-19 severity."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14455

16 June 2020
COVID‐19 in a patient with severe asthma treated with Omalizumab

"ircumstantial evidence suggests that patients with allergic asthma might have a lower risk to develop severe forms of COVID‐19. In addition, the anti‐IgE antibody Omalizumab was shown to enhance anti‐viral immunity. We report a case of a 52‐year‐old man with severe allergic asthma treated with Omalizumab with no evidence of an asthma exacerbation, loss of asthma control or pneumonia during symptomatic COVID‐19 disease. We hypothesize that the underlying disease (allergic asthma) or the antibody used for treatment (Omalizumab), or both, might have exerted protective effects."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14456

12 June 2020
COVID‐19 pandemic: Practical considerations on the organization of an allergy clinic – an EAACI/ARIA Position Paper

"This international Position Paper provides recommendations on operational plans and procedures to maintain high standards in the daily clinical care of allergic patients whilst ensuring necessary safety in the current COVID‐19 pandemic."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14453

07 June 2020
A compendium answering 150 questions on COVID‐19 and SARS‐CoV‐2

"This paper answers pressing questions, formulated by young clinicians and scientists, on SARS‐CoV‐2, COVID‐19 and allergy, focusing on the following topics: virology, immunology, diagnosis, management of patients with allergic disease and asthma, treatment, clinical trials, drug discovery, vaccine development and epidemiology. Over 140 questions were answered by experts in the field providing a comprehensive and practical overview of COVID‐19 and allergic disease."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14449

10 June 2020
Clinical characteristics of 182 pediatric COVID‐19 patients with different severities and allergic status

"Pediatric COVID‐19 patients tended to have a mild clinical course. Patients with pneumonia had higher proportion of fever and cough and increased inflammatory biomarkers than those without pneumonia. There was no difference between allergic and non‐allergic COVID‐19 children in disease incidence, clinical features, laboratory and immunological findings. Allergy was not a risk factor for developing and severity of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and hardly influenced the disease course of COVID‐19 in children."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14452

08 June 2020
Diagnosis and management of the drug hypersensitivity reactions in Coronavirus disease 19

"This review brings togetherall the published information about the diagnosis and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions due to current and candidate off‐label drugs andhighlights relevant recommendations. Furthermore, it gathers all the dermatologic manifestations reported during the disease for guiding the clinicians to establish a better differential diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity reactionsin the course of the disease."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14439

01 June 2020
Is asthma protective against COVID‐19?

"(...) there are no published reports of other type 2 conditions associated with severe COVID-19. Herein, we share some clues supporting the hypothesis that type 2 conditions do not represent a risk factor, despite the most morbidity occurring due to SARS-CoV-2 induced lung damage."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14426

26 May 2020
Low prevalence of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease among intensive care unit patients with COVID‐19

"In an uncontrolled study, we could not rule out the contribution of COPD to the more severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection that was shown in the previous studies. However, patients with bronchial asthma do not seem to be at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 induced ARDS. Our findings suggest that there is no need to change standard treatment for chronic respiratory diseases during pandemic of COVID-19. Additional studies are needed to prove this hypothesis."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14420

20 May 2020
COVID‐19 Clinical trials: quality matters more than quantity

"Hopefully, the efforts of clinical researchers in the fight against the SARS Cov‐2 will result into the identification of effective treatments. To make this possible, clinical research should be oriented by guidelines for more harmonized high‐quality studies and by a united commitment of the scientific community to share personal knowledge and data. Allergists and clinical immunologists should have a leading role in this unprecedent challenge."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14409?af=R

17 May 2020
Allergy and asthma in children and adolescents during the COVID outbreak: what we know and how we could prevent allergy and asthma flares?

"Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic is affecting people at any age with a more severe course in patients with chronic diseases or comorbidities, males and elderly patients. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initially proposed that patients with chronic lung diseases, including moderate‐severe asthma, and allergy may have a higher risk of developing severe COVID‐19 than otherwise healthy people"

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14369

13 May 2020
Managing ocular allergy in the time of COVID‐19

"This spring, the majority of allergic patients are confined to their homes due to COVID‐19 pandemic restrictions. In the following weeks, these restrictions will be reduced andpeople will be allowed to take walks, go jogging, and return to work.Spring is the time for ocular allergy (OA) to emerge with signs and symptoms consequent to increasing pollen counts. Even when wearing a mask, the eyes may remain unprotectedleading to an increase in ocular symptoms and patients seeking treatment forOA. However, access to routine consultation may remain problematic for many patients."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14361

13 May 2020
SARS‐CoV‐2 immunogenicity at the crossroads

"The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) poses a global health emergency and became a worldwide pandemic. We summarize the recent findings with respect to the function, structure and immunogenicity of the spike (S) protein, arising mutations, and implications on vaccine development and therapeutics."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14360

12 May 2020
Immune response to SARS‐CoV‐2 and mechanisms of immunopathological changes in COVID‐19

"Prevention of development to severe disease, cytokine storm, acute respiratory distress syndrome and novel approachs to prevent their development will be main routes for future research areas. As we learn to live amidst the virus, understanding the immunology of the disease can assist in containing the pandemic and in developing vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat individual patients."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14364

05 May 2020
COVID‐19, chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases and eosinophils – Observationsfrom reported clinical case series

"Currently, the world is facing a global pandemic with a new coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐ 2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus Type 2) causing infectious disease named COVID‐19 (CoronaVirus Infectious Disease 2019). Comparing the clinical presentation and epidemiological characteristics of COVID‐19 with previous coronavirus‐associated respiratory diseases (SARS‐CoV1 and MERS) revealedsome remarkable findings and differences. Moreover, the clinical course of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection showed the complexity of COVID‐19 profile with the variable clinical presentations."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14353

02 May 2020
Asthma and COVID‐19: is asthma a risk factor for severe outcomes?

"My recommendations to people with asthma and those treating them are most importantly to optimize asthma control with standard therapies, but if asthma control is not optimal despite appropriate use of standard therapies, to have a low threshold for starting azithromycin prophylaxis (because of its innate antiviral (IFN-boosting) property, at this time of enormous threat from COVID-19."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14348

 24 April 2020
Handling of allergen immunotherapy in the COVID‐19 pandemic: An ARIA‐EAACI statement

"This manuscript outlines the EAACI recommendations regarding AIT during the COVID-19 pandemic and aims at supporting allergists and all physicians performing AIT in their current daily practice with clear recommendations how to perform treatment during the pandemic and in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14336

27 April 2020
Is global BCG vaccination‐induced trained immunity relevant to the progression of SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic?

"Even though we are still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the disproportionately smaller number of cases reported from disadvantaged/low income countries remains puzzling. We hypothesize that general BCG vaccination policies adopted by different countries might have impacted the transmission patterns and/or COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14345

24 April 2020
Is BCG vaccination effecting the spread and severity of COVID‐19?

"As allergists and immunologists, we are very familiar with the T helper (Th)1 and Th2 balance in addition to orchestral roles of T regulatory and other effector cells, so we have to consider the possible roles of childhood immunizations within the context of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/all.14344

18 April 2020
Advanced forecasting of SARS‐CoV‐2 related deaths in Italy, Germany, Spain, and New York State

"Appropriate forecasting model can contribute to define strategic choices both in limiting the spread of SARS-Cov-2 virus, as well as in reducing the related mortality rate. Temporal trends of SARS-CoV-2 key epidemiological indicators (e.g., mortality, incidence of infected cases, etc.) to describe the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 have been estimated; their accuracy is key to plan and implement adequate health interventions (e.g., increasing ICU availability distribute personal protection gear, an eventual vaccine, etc)."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14327

13 April 2020
Distinct characteristics of COVID‐19 patients with initial rRT‐PCR positive and negative results for SARS‐CoV‐2

"Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, the outbreak of COVID‐19 epidemic has become an increasingly serious global health concern. Currently, over 150 countries have reported COVID‐19 cases, and the situation has progressed to a pandemic associated with substantial morbidity and mortality."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14316

02 April 2020
COVID‐19 in a Designated Infectious Diseases Hospital Outside Hubei Province, China

"In a designated hospital outside Hubei Province, COVID‐2019 patients could be effectively managed by properly using the existing hospital system. Mortality may be lowered when cases are relatively mild and there are sufficient medical resources to care and treat the disease."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14309

31 March 2020
Intranasal corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis in COVID‐19 infected patients: An ARIA‐EAACI statement

"Some sources have suggested that “corticosteroids” should be avoided during the for SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. This advice is about the use of oral corticosteroids unless there is a clear indication for their use. Patients with asthma should not stop their prescribed inhaled corticosteroid controller medication (or prescribed oral corticosteroids). Stopping inhaled corticosteroids often leads to potentially dangerous worsening of asthma, and avoiding oral corticosteroids during severe asthma attacks may have serious consequences."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14302

20 March 2020
Eleven faces of coronavirus disease 2019

"All different clinical characteristics of COVID‐19 should be taken into consideration to identify patients that need to be in strict quarantine for the efficient containment of the pandemic."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14289

19 February 2020
Clinical characteristics of 140 patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 in Wuhan, China

"Detailed clinical investigation of 140 hospitalized COVID‐19 cases suggests eosinopenia together with lymphopenia may be a potential indicator for diagnosis. Allergic diseases, asthma, and COPD are not risk factors for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Older age, high number of comorbidities, and more prominent laboratory abnormalities were associated with severe patients."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14238

2 April 2021
Vaccines and allergic reactions: the past, the current COVID‐19 pandemic, and future perspectives.

"Vaccines are essential public health tools with a favorable safety profile and prophylactic effectiveness that have historically played significant roles in reducing infectious disease burden in populations, when the majority of individuals are vaccinated. The COVID‐19 vaccines are expected to have similar positive impacts on health across the globe."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14840

 2 April 2021

Skin tests in urticaria/angioedema and flushing to Pfizer‐BioNTech SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine: limits of intradermal testing                   

 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14839

27 March 2021

Real‐life impact of COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown on the management of pediatric and adult asthma: a survey by the EAACI Asthma Section  

"The restrictions imposed by the COVID‐19 pandemic impact heavily the management of chronic diseases like asthma. This study aimed to evaluate the management of adults and children with asthma during COVID‐19‐related lockdown."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14831

25 March 2021
Detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 Specific Memory B cells to Delineate Long‐Term COVID‐19 Immunity

"Our study performed on a central-European cohort is in line with the data on the recently  published US-American and Australian cohorts and accordingly, confirms and extends the knowledge on  the  B  cell-response  against  SARS-CoV-2.  Demonstrating  the  persistence  of  SARS-CoV-2-specific  B  cell- response,  our  results point  towards  an  additional  hallmark  of  immunization  beyond  specific  serum  antibodies."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14827

 18 March 2021

Pros and Cons for the role of air pollution on COVID-19 Development

 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14818

17 March 2021

Differentiation of COVID-19 signs and symptoms from allergic rhinitis and common cold - an ARIA- EAACI - GA2LEN consensus

"Although there are many asymptomatic patients, one of the problems of COVID‐19 is early recognition of the disease. COVID‐19 symptoms are polymorphic and may include upper respiratory symptoms. However, COVID‐19 symptoms may be mistaken withthe common cold or allergic rhinitis. An ARIA‐EAACI study group attempted to differentiate upper respiratory symptoms betweenthe three diseases"

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14815

3 March 2021

Allergenic components of the mRNA‐1273 vaccine for COVID‐19: possible involvement of polyethylene glycol and IgG‐mediated complement activation

"Following the emergency use authorization of the mRNA‐1273 vaccine on the 18^thof December 2020,two mRNA vaccines are in current use for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). For both mRNA vaccines, the phase IIIpivotal trials excluded individuals with a history of allergy to vaccine components."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14794

 02 March 2021
COVID-19 Pandemic and allergen immunotherapy - an EAACI survey.

"As in many fields of medical care, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) resulted in an increased uncertainty regarding the safety of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) aimed to analyze the situation in different countries and systematically collect all information available regarding tolerability and possible amendments in daily practice of sublingual AIT (SLIT), subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) for inhalant allergies and venom AIT."

https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14793

 01 March 2021
Impact of anxiety, stress and depression related to COVID-19 pandemic on the course of hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency.

"Hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks can be provoked with psychological factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of anxiety, depression and stress related to COVID‐19 pandemic on disease activity of HAE patients during the quarantine period (QP) and the return to normal period (RTNP)."

https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14796

 20 February 2021
Childhood asthma outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the PeARL multi-national cohort.

"The PeARL multinational cohort included 1,054 children with asthma and 505 non‐asthmatic children aged between 4 and 18 years from 25 pediatric departments, from 15 countries globally. We compared the frequency of acute respiratory and febrile presentations during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic between groups and with data available from the previous year. In children with asthma, we also compared current and historical disease control."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14827

 11 February 2021
Management of patients with atopic dermatitis undergoing systemic therapy during COVID‐19 pandemic in Italy: data from the DA‐COVID‐19 registry.

"A national registry, named DA‐COVID‐19 and involving 35 Italian dermatology units, was established in order to evaluate the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on the management of adult AD patients treated with systemic immunomodulant/immunosuppressive medications or phototherapy. Demographic and clinical data were obtained at different timepoints by teledermatology during COVID‐19 pandemic, when regular visits were not allowed due to sanitary restrictions. Disease severity was assessed by both physician‐ and patient‐reported assessment scores evaluating itch intensity, sleep disturbances, and AD severity."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14767

 31 January 2021
Enzymatic activity of ACE2 regulates type 2 airway inflammation in mice.

"Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a global pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to angiotensin-converting  enzyme  2  (ACE2),  a  transmembrane  endopeptidase  on  host  cells  of  the  airway  epithelium  surface  for  invasion  and  infection;  therefore,  most  COVID-19  research  has focused on ACE2. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis  are  reportedly  at  a  high  risk  of  COVID-19  morbidity  and  mortality,  regardless  of whether they have asthma."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14754

 23 January 2021
Elastase and Exacerbation of Neutrophil Innate Immunity are Involved in Multi‐Visceral Manifestations of COVID‐19.

"Many arguments suggest that neutrophils could play a prominent role in COVID‐19. However, the role of key components of neutrophil innate immunity in severe forms of COVID‐19 has deserved insufficient attention. We aimed to evaluate the involvement of neutrophil elastase, histone‐DNA, and DNases in systemic and multi‐organ manifestations of COVID‐19."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14746

 16 January 2021
EAACI statement on the diagnosis, management and prevention of severe allergic reactions to COVID‐19 vaccines

"We provide a simplified algorithm of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of severe allergic reactions and a list of recommended medications and equipment for vaccine centres.
We also describe potentially allergenic/immunogenic components of the approved vaccines and propose a workup to identify the responsible allergen. Finally, we identify unmet research needs and propose a concerted international roadmap towards precision diagnosis and management to minimise the risk of allergic reactions to COVID‐19 vaccines and to facilitate their broader and safer use."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14739

 30 December 2020
ARIA‐EAACI statement on severe allergic reactions to COVID‐19 vaccines – an EAACI‐ARIA position paper.

"Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine BNT162b2 received approval and within the first few days of public vaccination several severe anaphylaxis cases occurred. An investigation is taking place to understand the cases and their triggers. The vaccine will be administered to a large number of individuals worldwide and concerns raised for severe adverse events might occur. With the current information, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) states its position for the following preliminary recommendations that are to be revised as soon as more data emerges."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14726

 28 November 2020
Association between asthma and clinical mortality/morbidity in COVID‐19 patients using clinical epidemiologic data from Korean Disease Control & Prevention

"Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has rapidly spread worldwide, posing a serious public health problem.¹ The prevalence of asthma in COVID‐19 patents differs among studies, with 0.0% reported in Wuhan, China, and markedly higher prevalence rates of 17% and 14% reported in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), respectively.^2-4 Data from the UK showed that asthma was a risk factor for severe COVID‐19; however, another study from the United States showed no association between asthma and severe disease, suggesting that it is still unclear whether asthma is a risk factor for a poor prognosis.."


https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14675

 7 January 2021
Association of endopeptidases, involved in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, with microbial aggravation in sputum of severe asthma.

"High expression of such endopeptidases may be associated not only with a higher risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection but also with microbial imbalances in severe asthma. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate associations of sputum endopeptidases gene expression with metagenomics composition and whether they could be used to stratify asthma patients according to risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection."

https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14731

 31 December 2020
Genetic Predisposition to allergic diseases is inversely associated to risk of COVID-19

"Allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), atopic dermatitis (eczema) and asthma tend to cluster together in individuals, partly because of shared genetic factors that navigate the immune system. However, it is not yet known whether genetic predisposition to allergic disease also relates to COVID‐19 susceptibility. Understanding this relationship may provide mechanistic insight towards uncovering preventative and therapeutic strategies for COVID‐19."

https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14728

 19 December 2020
SARS-COV-2 Candidate vaccines - composition, mechanisms of action and stages of clinical development

"Due to the extensive scientific‐industry collaborations the vaccine field is evolving at an unprecedented speed. Yet, to stop the pandemics equal access to the vaccine all over the world, limiting the costs of vaccines and logistics, close monitoring and reporting of adverse events are absolutely necessary. Development of a successful SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine should not slow down the studies on the effective broader antiviral treatments. If not for SARS‐CoV‐2, we will need it for another coronavirus or an inevitably emerging virus X."

https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14714

15 December 2020
Allergic reactions to the first COVID‐19 vaccine: a potential role of polyethylene glycol?

"The COVID‐19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom (UK) on December 2^nd 2020. MHRA is therefore the first regulator agency in the world to approve a vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), a virus that is responsible for a global pandemic."

https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14711

15 December 2020
The role of circulating eosinophils on COVID‐19 mortality varies by race/ethnicity

"During this rapidly moving international health crisis, varying and seemingly contrasting reports indicate both a protective and exacerbating contribution of atopy to the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Further, worse outcomes have been reported in association with certain races/ethnicities, highlighting health disparities possibly related to systemic racism, access to care, income inequality, occupational hazards, and disproportionate medical comorbidities."

https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14708

 12 December 2020
Multidisciplinary consensus on sputum induction biosafety during the COVID-19 pandemic

"Sputum induction (SI) is the gold standard approach to the non‐invasive study of airway inflammation. The multidisciplinary consensus on SI described in this article was developed by 22 experts in SI from different Spanish hospitals who drew on available scientific evidence in achieving consensuated opinions, compiled by means of an electronic survey."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14697

 7 December 2020
The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management and course of chronic urticaria

"The COVID‐19 pandemic dramatically disrupts health care around the globe. The impact of the pandemic on chronic urticaria (CU) and its management are largely unknown.The long‐term consequences of these changes, especially the increased use of remote consultations, require careful evaluation."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14687

 19 November 2020
Distinct expression of SARS- CoV-2 receptor ACE2 correlates with endotypes of rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

"Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) entry factors, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, are highly expressed in nasal epithelial cells. However, the association between SARS‐CoV‐2 and nasal inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) has not been investigated. We thus investigated the expression of SARS‐CoV‐2 entry factors in nasal tissues of CRSwNP patients, and their associations with inflammatory endotypes of CRSwNP."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14665

13 November 2020
Risk factors for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients: A review

"Intranasal corticosteroids remain the standard treatment for CRS in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Surgical treatments should be reduced to a minimum and surgery preserved for patients with local complications and for those with no other treatment options. Systemic corticosteroids should be avoided. Treatment with biologics can be continued with careful monitoring in non‐infected patients and should be temporarily interrupted during the course of the COVID‐19 infection."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14657

31 October 2020
Immunological imprint of COVID-19 on human peripheral blood leukocyte populations

"SARS‐CoV‐2 has triggered a pandemic that is now claiming many lives. Several studies have investigated cellular immune responses in COVID‐19‐infected patients during disease but little is known regarding a possible protracted impact of COVID‐19 on the adaptive and innate immune system in COVID‐19 convalescent patients."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14647

19 October 2020
Management of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis during the COVID‐19 pandemic – An EAACI Position Paper

"Intranasal corticosteroids remain the standard treatment for CRS in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Surgical treatments should be reduced to a minimum and surgery preserved for patients with local complications and for those with no other treatment options. Systemic corticosteroids should be avoided. Treatment with biologics can be continued with careful monitoring in non‐infected patients and should be temporarily interrupted during the course of the COVID‐19 infection."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14629

10 October 2020
Regional differences in ACE2 expression in the sinonasal mucosa of adult Chinese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

"In summary, our study provides the first evidence of regional differences in ACE2 expression in the sinonasal mucosa of patients with CRS and that ACE2 expression in CRS tissues is associated with type I IFN response and not type 2 response (Figure 2C)."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14623

10 October 2020
Antibody dynamics to SARS‐CoV‐2 in asymptomatic COVID‐19 infections

"Our findings might have important implications for the definition of asymptomatic COVID‐19 infections, diagnosis, serological survey, public health, and immunization strategies."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14622

04 October 2020
Characterization of asthma and risk factors for delayed SARS‐CoV‐2 clearance in adult COVID‐19 inpatients in Daegu

"In summary, despite the differences depending on phenotypes, the prevalence of asthma was not significantly different in patients with COVID-19, and asthma did not affect the outcomes of COVID-19 in multivariate analysis. Dementia, older age, and initial presentation of skin rash and anemia were independently associated with delayed viral clearance. On the other hand, in patients with headache initially, the viral clearance time was shortened"

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14609

30 September 2020
Accuracy of serological testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies: first results of a large mixed‐method evaluation study

"ELISAs targeting RBD and S1 protein of SARS‐CoV‐2 are promising immunoassays which shall be further evaluated in studies verifying diagnostic accuracy and protective immunity against SARS‐CoV‐2."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14608

23 September 2020
Small droplet emission in exhaled breath during different breathing manoeuvres: Implications for clinical lung function testing during COVID‐19

"In summary, we show that small droplet emission varies for different breath manoeuvre performed during PFTs, with very low production in TV and sVC from FRC and low production during FEV. Consideration of performing PFTs in different clinical settings could account for these differences, with future focus of clinical risk also on room ventilation."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14596

21 September 2020
Dexamethasone, pro‐resolving lipid mediators and resolution of inflammation in COVID‐19

"Coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) is a new disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2. Since the beginning of 2020, it has become one of the main challenges of our times, causing a high incidence of severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiorgan failure and death1. At the root of COVID‐19 lies the sudden development of ‘cytokine storms’, hyper‐inflammatory responses involving the release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF, IL‐6, IL‐1, IL‐8, and MCP‐1) that impair the gas exchange function of the lung and lead in select patients, mostly with underlying comorbidities, to multiorgan failure and death."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14595

18 September 2020
Asthma control, self‐management and healthcare access during the COVID‐19 epidemic in Beijing

"The results support the recommendation that patients continue taking their prescribed asthma medications as usual and maintain good asthma control during the ongoing pandemic. For containment of viral transmission, social distancing is being encouraged, but measures should be taken to mitigate the negative impact on asthma"

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/all.14591

07 September 2020
Thirty‐six COVID‐19 cases preventively vaccinated with mumps‐measles‐rubella vaccine: all mild course

"Thus, with the here presented cases we support the AMS declaration that MMR vaccination, as a preventive measure, might reduce the severity of COVID-19, although we differ in our view on the mechanisms by which we hypothesize this happens. Though randomized, clinical and mechanistic trials shall be needed to unravel this topic, taking in consideration there are hardly any safety concerns, we maintain our positive attitude toward MMR vaccination during this pandemic."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/all.14584

27 August 2020
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme II expression and its implication in the association between COVID‐19 and allergic rhinitis

"In conclusion, for the first time, we provide the evidence that AR comorbidity may not have significant modifying effect on the development and expression of COVID‐19. ACE2 expression is not altered in AR patients. ACE2 gene expression in airways is regulated, at least in part, by the counter effect of type 2 and IFN inflammation."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14569

16 August 2020
Atopic status protects from severe complications of COVID‐19

"In conclusion, atopic status seems to protect against the most severe, often fatal consequences of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Such finding may be of help for future studies investigating how to limit the clinical consequences of this infection."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14551

14 August 2020
Severe asthma in adults does not significantly affect the outcome of COVID‐19 disease: results from the Italian Severe Asthma Registry

"Despite the clinical burden of severe asthma is substantial, there is evidence of a neutral effect of severe asthma in the clinical progression and hospitalization due to COVID-19 in a cohort of Italian severe asthma patients. Treatment with biologics for severe asthma also seems to have no significant effect on the outcome of COVID-19"

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/all.14558

06 August 2020
Cabbage and fermented vegetables: from death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID‐19

"The nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block the AT1R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are given: Kimchi in Korea, westernized foods and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof‐of‐concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2‐associated antioxidant effects helpful in mitigating COVID‐19 severity."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/all.14549

05 August 2020
Delayed virus‐specific antibody responses associate with COVID‐19 mortality

"Collectively, for the first time, our study provides evidence that delayed antibody responses correlate with poor clinical outcome of COVID‐19 patients. This notion is strongly supported by the reduction of SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific IgM and IgG levels and frequencies of ASCs and TFH cells in the early stage of disease in deceased patients compared with survived patients, which highlights the importance of early adaptive immune responses in patients with COVID‐19."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14546

05 August 2020
Cross‐sectional pilot study exploring the feasibility of a rapid SARS‐CoV‐2 immunization test in health and nonhealthcare workers

"(...)the results obtained from this rationale together with the information related to previous pathologies and risk factors will allow the design of personalized strategies of reincorporation into academic activities in the future. This will significantly reduce the human and economic burden of future COVID‐19 infection waves in our community. The proposed strategy can be easily implemented by several research laboratories and might help in better activity plans in other locations to be ready for future outbreaks."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14545

02 August 2020
Blood myeloperoxidase‐DNA, a biomarker of early response to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection?

"In conclusion, our results on a consecutive ambulatory population of COVID‐19 cases suggest that blood level of MPO‐DNA complexes could be a useful biomarker of the early phase of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. If further studies confirm that the dramatic production of NETs is a pathological mechanism of innate immunity involved in early step of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, our data could open therapeutic perspectives by targeting NET production with inhibitors already tested in other lung infectious diseases."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14533

01 August 2020
COVID‐19 in Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI) patients: Clinical features, impact of comorbidities and treatments

"In conclusion, in our large cohort of severe asthmatics, only a small minority experienced symptoms consistent with COVID‐19, and these patients had peculiar clinical features including high prevalence of NIDDM as comorbidity. Further real‐life registry‐based studies are needed to confirm our findings and to extend the evidence that severe asthmatics are at low risk of developing COVID‐19."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14532

30 July 2020
Antibodies in serum of convalescent patients following mild COVID‐19 do not always prevent virus‐receptor binding

"Our findings suggest that a natural SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, similar to that observed previously for rhinovirus (RV) infections,9 does not induce a protective antibody response inhibiting the virus‐receptor interaction in all infected patients and therefore underline the urgent need for the development of a SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine. The molecular interaction assays could be useful for identifying subjects having developed protective antibodies and for screening candidate vaccines to induce antibodies that inhibit the RBD‐ACE2 interaction once they have been validated.."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14523

29 July 2020
SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor ACE2 protein expression in serum is significantly associated with age

"In sum, while additional studies are needed to uncover the mechanistic basis of varying COVID‐19 clinical presentations, our data associate significantly higher ACE2 protein expression in the serum of adults compared with infants and toddlers, and in adult males compared with adult females. These data suggest the potential systemic role of ACE2 protein levels in the differential clinical manifestations among various patient populations."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.14522

28 October 2020
Is there a role for childhood vaccination against COVID-19?

"Tremendous efforts are undertaken to quickly develop COVID‐19 vaccines that protect vulnerable individuals from severe disease and thereby limit the health and socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. Potential candidates are tested in adult populations, and questions arise of whether COVID‐19 vaccination should be implemented in children. Compared to adults, the incidence and disease severity of COVID‐19 are low in children, and despite their infectiveness, their role in disease propagation is limited. Therefore, COVID‐19 vaccines will need to have fully demonstrated safety and efficacy in preventing not only complications but transmission to justify childhood vaccination. This work summarizes currently tested vaccine platforms and debates practical and ethical considerations for their potential use in children. It also discusses the already deleterious effect of the pandemic on routine childhood vaccine coverage, calling for action to limit the risks for a rise in vaccine‐preventable diseases."

08 September  2020
The potential threat of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children during the COVID-19 pandemic

"Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C) during the COVID‐19 pandemic raised a global alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Alert Network. The main manifestations of MIS‐C (also known as pediatric MIS (PMIS)) in the setting of a severe inflammatory state include fever, diarrhea, shock, and variable presence of rash, conjunctivitis, extremity edema, and mucous membrane changes. In some cases, these symptoms progressed to multi‐organ failure. The low percentage of children with asymptomatic cases compared with mild illness and moderate illness could be correlated with the rare cases of MIS‐C. One potential explanation for the progression to severe MIS‐C disease despite the presence of readily detectable anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies could be due to the potential role of antibody‐dependent enhancement (ADE). We reason that the incidence of the ADE phenomenon whereby the pathogen‐specific antibodies can promote pathology should be considered in vaccine development against SARS‐CoV‐2."

15 September 2020
The younger the milder clinical course of COVID-19 - even in infants?

"Neonates appeared to bear more severe clinical courses. In addition to higher case fatality rates, newborns with COVID‐19 had much shorter time from symptom onset to death and longer time from symptom onset to discharge. Dyspnoea, sore throat and cough were more prominent in neonate patients, suggestive of both upper and lower respiratory tract infection, as opposed to upper respiratory tract symptoms mostly observed in children."

05 August  2020
Shielding against SARS-CoV-2 infections is not justified in children with severe asthma

"For the EU‐funded project PERMEABLE (PERsonalized MEdicine Approach for asthma and allergy Biologicals SeLEction), which addresses the availability of and access to advanced therapy of asthma in children across Europe, we performed a survey including 37 major pediatric asthma and allergy centres between September 2019 and July 2020. In total, the centres contributing to the survey treated approximately 1.000 young patients with severe asthma in 25 major European countries and Turkey with biologicals. In the light of the corona pandemic, we extended our survey asking the responsible clinicians whether they experienced a SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in any of the children they are caring for. The questions pertaining to corona infections were asked between March and July 2020."

19 July 2020
A male infant with COVID-19 in the context of ARPC1B Deficiency

"The current pandemic of the novel SARS‐CoV‐2 infection has affected over 10 million humans around the planet. The clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) are diverse, ranging from asymptomatic or mild flu‐like symptoms to atypical pneumonia, severe respiratory distress syndrome, systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and coagulopathy. Here, we describe a male infant patient with known ARPC1B deficiency, who was hospitalized for COVID‐19 pneumonia and improved without requiring intensive care or mechanical ventilation. Informed consent through protocols approved by the institutional review boards of the National Institute of Pediatrics was obtained from the patient’s family."

09 June 2020
Postnatal SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection and Immunological Reaction: A Prospective Family Cohort Study

"The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) appears milder in children but little is known about neonates and about the chains of infections after delivery.  When in early March 2020 a midwife in our large maternity and perinatal center returned from vacation in Ischgl, Austria, she triggered a COVID‐19 outbreak affecting 36 midwives, nurses and doctors. We reported previously on the successful containment of this outbreak and characterized the clinical symptoms and immunoglobulin development in staff members exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2."

29 May 2020
African American children are at higher risk for COVID‐19 infection

"Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the viral etiology of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), was first reported in Wuhan, China in late 2019. Peculiarly, the virus has not caused significant impact on pediatric populations, unlike other coronaviruses (1). Children comprise only 1.7% of COVID‐19 positive cases in the United States (2). Furthermore, children are noted to have a milder disease course (3, 4). However, much is unknown about the age, gender and race risk factors of COVID‐19 among children. There has been recent evidence suggestive of higher rates of COVID‐19 and related fatality rates in African American adult communities around the United States(5). However, there is limited data, to our knowledge, whether any race or ethnicity group is at higher risk for COVID‐19 infection in children."

15 May 2020
Symptoms and immunoglobulin development in hospital staff exposed to a SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreak

"We found that a significant number of diseased did not develop relevant antibody responses three weeks after symptom onset. Our data also suggest that exposure to COVID‐19 positive co‐workers in a hospital setting is not leading to the development of measurable immune responses in a significant proportion of asymptomatic contact persons."

02 May 2020
The first, holistic immunological model of COVID‐19: Implications for prevention, diagnosis, and public health measures

"This allows the virus to bypass the efficient immune barrier of the upper airway mucosa in already infected, young, and otherwise healthy athletes. In conclusion, whether the virus or the adaptive immune response reaches the lungs first is a crucial factor deciding the fate of the patient. This “quantitative and time‐/sequence‐dependent” model has several implications for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of COVID‐19 at all ages."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pai.13271

Comment on article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pai.13277

24 April 2020
SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children – Understanding the immune responses and controlling the pandemic

"Clear understanding of the immune responses to the virus in children and the transmission potential of asymptomatic children are of paramount importance for the development of specific treatments and vaccine in order to effectively control the ongoing pandemic"

22 April 2020
Two X‐linked agammaglobulinemia patients develop pneumonia as COVID‐19 manifestation but recover

"Our report suggests that XLA patients might present high risk to develop pneumonia after SARS‐Cov2 infection, but can recover from infection, suggesting that B cell response might be important, but not strictly required to overcome the disease. However, there is need of larger observational studies to extend these conclusions to other patients with similar genetic immune defects."

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pai.13263

22 April 2020
Managing childhood allergies and immunodeficiencies during respiratory virus epidemics – the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic - A statement from the EAACI-Section on Pediatrics

"Most countries affected by COVID‐19 have opted for nationwide confinement, which means that communication with the primary clinician is often performed by telemedicine. Optimal disease control of allergic, asthmatic and immunodeficient children should be sought according to usual treatment guidelines. This statement of the EAACI Section on Pediatrics puts forward six recommendations for the management of childhood allergies and immunodeficiencies based on six underlying facts and existing evidence."

22 April 2020
Successful containment of COVID‐19 outbreak in a large maternity and perinatal center while continuing clinical service

"Apart from massive testing of personnel in predefined phases and increased hygiene measures, including a general obligation to wear surgical face masks, we identified the need to monitor cases of illness across all groups of employees, to ensure social distancing within personnel and to evaluate contacts of clinical personnel outside of the hospital environment, in order to be able to interpret chains of infections and to disrupt them. Overall, only a bundle of measures is needed to contain such an outbreak."

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pai.13265

04 April 2020
Coronavirus infection and allergies: what do we know?

"Viral infections are well-known risk factors for an exacerbation of asthma. In the study by Yang et al., 40% of the COVID-19 patients with critical symptoms had an underlying long-term disease before the infection. Another study of 140 cases from Wuhan (China) did not report allergic diseases as co-morbidities among severe cases. However, more information needs to be gathered and analyzed to create reliable reports on risk factors for severe COVID-19."

https://patients.eaaci.org/coronavirus-infection-and-asthma-what-do-we-know/

17 June  2020
Genome-wide CRISPR screen reveals host genes that regulate SARS-CoV-2 infection

"We also revealed that the alarmin HMGB1 is critical for SARS-CoV-2 replication. In contrast, loss of the histone H3.3 chaperone complex sensitized cells to virus-induced death. Together this study reveals potential therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2 and highlights host genes that may regulate COVID-19 pathogenesis."

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.16.155101v1

This article was selected by Adam Klocperk, Marketa Bloomfield, Tomáš Milota, and Anna Sediva

11 June  2020
A Global Effort to Define the Human Genetics of Protective Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

"SARS-CoV-2 infection displays immense inter-individual clinical variability, ranging from silent infection to lethal disease. The role of human genetics in determining clinical response to the virus remains unclear. Studies of outliers—individuals remaining uninfected despite viral exposure and healthy young patients with life-threatening disease—present a unique opportunity to reveal human genetic determinants of infection and disease."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867420306115

This article was selected by Adam Klocperk, Marketa Bloomfield, Tomáš Milota, and Anna Sediva

02 June  2020
First antibody trial launched in COVID-19 patients

"The article describes the initiation of the first clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov LY-CoV555) that uses monoclonal antibody binding S-protein of SARS-Cov-2 virus. The antibody was designed using the most potent clones of B cells from COVID-19 patients. Before vaccine available the access to the highly specific monoclonal antibody would be very useful and might enrich treatment strategies in COVID-19."

This article was selected by Adam Klocperk, Marketa Bloomfield, Tomáš Milota, and Anna

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01June 2020
Position statement of expert panel of the Polish Allergology Society (PTA) on the management of patients with bronchial asthma and allergic diseases during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

"The dynamically changing epidemiological situation related to SARS-CoV-2 infection poses challenges also for allergists. Both allergic diseases affecting many organs, especially the respiratory system, and the procedures used by allergists give rise a number of questions about
the proper procedures during the pandemic. This position statement aims to provide allergists with recommendations on the proper management of allergic patients in the current epidemiological situation.."

28 May  2020
SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 is an interferon-stimulated gene in human airway epithelial cells and is detected in specific cell subsets across tissues

"Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 receptor, an entry receptor for SARS-CoV and present on type 2 pneumocytes in the lung, ileal absorptive enterocytes, and nasal goblet secretory cells in nasal mucosa.
This paper shows, that ACE2 expression is upregulated by Type 1 IFNs. Furthermore it suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may use species-specific interferon up-regulation of ACE2, a mediator that protects tissues during lung damage, to increase infection. Hence type 1 IFNs, that drive anti-viral immunity on one hand, may paradoxically promote SARS-CoV-2 expansion by upregulating ACE2 expression on the other. As the type 1 IFN regulation in asthma might be impaired, these observations also might be related to the observed underrepresentation of severe Covid-19 among patients with asthma."

This article was selected by FJS van der Velden, MD (resident paeds) & G. Tramper, PhD, MD (paediatrician, paediatric infectiologist)

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26 May 2020
APOE e4 Genotype Predicts Severe COVID-19 in the UK Biobank Community Cohort

"This interesting article shows that the ApoE e4e4 allele increases risks of severe COVID-19 infection, independent of pre-existing dementia, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes.
Furthermore, as the novel coronavirus SARSCoV-2 causing COVID-19 uses the ACE2 receptor for cell entry. it is notable that ACE2 is highly expressed in type II alveolar cells in the lungs, where ApoE is one of the highly co-expressed genes."

This article was selected by Adam Klocperk, Marketa Bloomfield, Tomáš Milota, and Anna Sediva

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07 May 2020
Cutaneous manifestations related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A prospective study from China and Italy

"This is a binational (Italian – Chinese) multicenter prospective study to assess cutaneous involvement in COVID-19, performed between 1.01-15.03.2020. The authors state that the dermatological manifestations could not be correlated to COVID-19 severity. Diffuse petechiae, gravity-dependent and multiple, generalized palpable purpura, and acroischemia (primarily finger/toe cyanosis, but no skin bulla nor dry gangrene) were seen in severe cases. Skin manifestations were observed in only 7.8% of the cohort, and these skin findings are generally mild and self-limiting and do not correlate with overall prognosis.”

This article was selected and commented by Dominika Ambrożej and Wojciech Feleszko

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01 May 2020
Biologics increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization, but not ICU admission and death: real-life data from a large cohort during RED-ZONE declaration

"Single center case-control study in Lombardia, Italy, of 1193 psoriasis patients treated with biologics compared to the Lombardia population as controls, assessing the risk of contracting COVID-19, and analysing mortality, and ICU admission rates. Furthermore severity of COVID-19 disease was reviewed.
Included psoriasis patients were adults, had moderate to severe disease and used approved anti-psoriatic monotherapy in the maintaining phase. Used medications include: TNFalpha inhibitors, IL 12/23 inhibitors, IL 17, IL 23 inhibitors and small molecules. Demographic and clinical characteristics of cases and controls were similar.
Patients under biologicals were at higher risk of testing positive for COVID 19 (OR 3.43(95% CI 2.25-5.75), more at risk of being self quarantained at home (OR 9.05) and more at risk of being hospitalized (OR 3.49) compared to controls. There was no statistical higher risk of ICU admission or death.
Authors discuss the fact that patients on biologicals might be at risk for respiratory infections, but the detrimental hyperinflammatory phase of COVID-19 as seen in the regular population occurred not in this study group and therefore might have protecte dpatients on biologicals from progression to extrapulmonary manifestations and death.
Limitations: there has not been and adjustment for, i.e. COPD patients or other patients with a known increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, there hasn’t been a detailed sub analysis of which inhibitors are more or less effective at potentially preventing severe COVID-19. It is important to acknowledge that psoriatic patients on biologicals do show an increased risk of contracting mild-to-moderate COVID-19
Questions for further research include the role of the blocked interleukins in COVID-19. Does a similar pattern occur in i.e. asthma patients on asthma biologicals?"

This article was selected by FJS van der Velden, MD (resident paeds) & G. Tramper, PhD, MD (paediatrician, paediatric infectiologist)

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22 April 2020
Association of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma and Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor, ACE2

"Asthma and respiratory allergies have not been identified as risk factor for severe Covid-19 disease in case series till now. This paper describes features that could be associated with this diminished risk. In 3 different asthma/allergy cohorts, it was examined whether ACE2 (the receptor for SARS-Cov-2 entry) expression on airway cells was reduced. Allergen sensitisation and allergen exposure was strongly associated with reduced ACE2 expression in all cohorts. This might be mediated by type 2 inflammation, as IL-13 reduced ACE2 in bronchial and nasal epithelium; non-atopic asthma was not associated with this reduction. The role of biological treatment for allergic or type 2 high asthma and SARS-Cov-2 susceptibility is yet unknown. The relation between type 2 inflammatory processes and SARS-Cov-2 disease severity could identify novel therapeutic strategies."

This article was selected by FJS van der Velden, MD (resident paeds) & G. Tramper, PhD, MD (paediatrician, paediatric infectiologist)

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26 March 2020
COVID-19: Pandemic Contingency Planning for the Allergy and Immunology Clinic

"In the event of a global infectious pandemic, drastic measures may be needed that limit or require adjustment of ambulatory allergy services. However, no rationale for how to prioritize service shut down and patient care exists. A consensus-based ad-hoc expert panel of allergy/immunology specialists from the United States and Canada developed a service and patient prioritization schematic to temporarily triage allergy/immunology services."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213219820302531

24 March 2020
World Allergy Organization (WAO): Preparing your office for the COVID-19 Pandemic

"As COVID-19 continues to spread, it is important that we are ready to continue to care for patients, and to recognize patients who may potentially have, or have been exposed to, COVID-19."

https://www.worldallergy.org/UserFiles/file/Preparing_your_office_COVID-19.pdf

16 March 2020
DGAKI statement on asthma and COVID-19

"AIT and COVID-19
March 18, 2020
Dear colleagues,

In the past few days, we have received more and more inquiries regarding the administration of allergen immunotherapy (AIT, also hyposensitization or specific immunotherapy) in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If possible, AIT treatments should continue. We would like to make the following recommendations:

When carrying out AIT, the product information for the AIT products must be observed and followed.
AIT in the form of subcutaneous injections (SCIT) or in the form of (sublingual) drops or tablets (SLIT) can be continued in symptom-free and healthy patients and the therapy regimen should not be interrupted.

If signs of infection such as fever, unclear cough or reduced general condition occur, AIT should be stopped and continued at a later (symptom-free) time-point . If SCIT is interrupted, the dose has to be adjusted by the treating doctor and according to the recommendations of the manufacturer. The resumption of SLIT should be carried out under medical supervision.

Prof. Dr. med. O. Pfaar, board member of DGAKI
Prof. Dr. me. Margitta Worm, President of the DGAKI"

Research & Outreach Board Members
Tomás Chivato
Cezmi A. Akdis
Domingo Barber
Walter Canonica
Stefano del Giacco
Karin Hoffman-Sommergruber
Marek Jutel
Edward Knol


Research & Outreach Committee Members
Milena Sokolowska
Matteo Bonini
Helen Brough
Charlotte Mortz
Ludger Klimek
Radoslaw Gawlik
Joana Vitte
Oliver Price
Audrey DunnGalvin
Antonella Cianferoni
Grzegorz Brozek
Katja Bärenfaller

VP Education & Specialty
Tomás Chivato

“The national society committee is an interactive platform and is made of representatives of
each European national society members of the EAACI (…). The main goal of this committee is to
increase the interaction and the trust between EAACI and the National Allergy Societies,
including educational and scientific activities”

NAS-JM Chair
Chiara Tontini (Italy)

NAS-JM Secretary
Carmen Riggioni-Viquez (Spain)

JMA Board Chair
Ibon Eguíluz-Gracia (Spain)

JMA Board Secretary
Alberto Alvarez-Perea (Spain)

NASC Chair
 Maria Beatrice Bilò (Italy) 

NASC Secretary
     Nanna Fyhrquist (Finland) 

ANAFORCAL (Association Nationale 
de Formation Continue en Allergologie)
Representative: Sarah Eve Saf
Contact: safsaraheve@gmail.com

French Allergy Society
Representative: Anouchka Fillard
Contact: anouchkafillard@hotmail.fr

German Society of Allergology and
Clinical Immunology (DGAKI)
Representative: Hendrik Beckert
Contact: Hendrik.Beckert@rlk.uk-essen.de

Associazione Allergologi e Immunologi 
Territoriali Ospedalieri (AAIITO)
Representative: Chiara Tontini
Contact: c.tontini@live.com

Italian Society of Allergology
and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC)
Representative: Stefania Nicola
Contact: stefania.nicola@outlook.com

Italian Society of Pediatric
Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP)
Representative: Riccardo Castagnoli
Contact: riccardo.castagnoli@yahoo.it

Romanian Society of Pneumology
Representative: Cosei Valentin
Contact: coseiv@gmail.com

Romanian Society of Allergology
and Clinical Immunology (RSACI)             
Representative: Ileana Ghiordanescu
Contact: ileana.ghiordanescu@gmail.com

Spanish Society of Allergology 
Clinical Immunology (SEAIC)
Representative: Gabriela Zambrano
Contact: 
gabrielaandrea.zambrano@salud.madrid.org

Spanish Society of Pediatric
Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SEICAP)
Representative: Carmen Riggioni-Viquez
Contact: criggioni@gmail.com

Pediatric Allergy and 
Asthma Academy Society (CAAAD)
Representative: Zeynep Hizli Demirkale
Contact: zeynep.hizli@istanbul.edu.tr

Turkish National Society of Allergy
and Clinical Immunology (TNSACI)
Representative: Ozge Ozturk Aktas
Contact: doctorozge@hotmail.com

Ioannis Moisidis
Committee chair