Background and Objectives: Early-type drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are observed within the first 1–6 h and most commonly manifest as urticaria and/or angioedema. Detailed anamnesis, skin prick tests (SPTs), intradermal tests (IDTs), and oral/intramuscular/intravenous drug provocation tests (DPTs) can be used to identify the drug responsible. We aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics, responsible drugs, DHR types, and DPT results used in the diagnosis of drug allergy in patients who presented to our clinic with suspected drug allergies. Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients who presented with a suspicion of an early-type DHR between February 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively evaluated through the hospital information management system. A total of 188 adults who underwent diagnostic drug testing were included. Results: The diagnosis of drug allergy was confirmed in 51 (27%) patients. In 137 (73%) patients, the diagnosis of drug allergy was excluded after DPTs. In 78 of the 188 patients, there was a DHR to a single suspected drug. The other 110 patients had DHR histories with multiple drugs. The rate of confirmation of a drug allergy from diagnostic tests was higher in those who described a history of multiple drug allergies. Amongst the antibiotics, beta-lactam antibiotics (n = 47) were the most frequently suspected drugs. The rate of positive DPTs (n = 4; 8%) was lower in patients with suspected beta-lactam allergies than other antibiotics (p = 0.002). NSAIDs (n = 60) were the second most common group of suspected drug allergies. With regard to IgE or COX-1-mediated mechanisms, there was no statistically significant difference in DPT positivity among these NSAIDs (p = 0.414). The severity of the initial early-type DHRs were grade 1 (n = 168; 80%), grade 2 (n = 14; 7%), and grade 3 (n = 14; 7%). If the patients had redness, itching, urticaria, angioedema, dyspnea, cyanosis, desaturation, syncope, tachycardia, or hypotension during their initial DHRs, the positive diagnostic drug test rate was statistically significantly higher. However, experiencing diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting were not found to be associated with positive diagnostic drug tests. Drug allergies were confirmed with SPTs or IDTs in all patients in whom adrenaline was used during initial reactions. Conclusions: Contrary to the prevailing notion that drugs (especially beta-lactams) are the predominant cause of allergic reactions, this study demonstrated that the actual prevalence of drug allergies is, in fact, low.

Background/aim: Drug provocation tests (DPTs) are the gold standard method performed at the end of a stepwise approach in a drug allergy workup. Drug provocation tests are administered as a single drug on a test day. Testing more than one drug in a day is a feasible option and could be a safe and time-and manpower-saving procedure in well-selected patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of performing a DPT with two or three alternative drugs in one test day (Hacettepe method). Materials and methods: Adult patients who were admitted with drug hypersensitivity between August 2010 and December 2016 and underwent DPTs with the described method were included. The method was based on performing DPTs with two or three different, alternative drugs on the same test day. Data was obtained from standard drug provocation test forms and from patient files. Results: A total of 1448 DPTs were performed by the Hacettepe method in 1131 patients. The reaction rate was 5.45% (n = 79), and none of the reactions were severe. The Hacettepe method saved 19.95 DPTs per month which was a considerable time savings. Conclusion: In cases of proven drug hypersensitivity reactions, performing a drug provocation test with a combination of two or three different, alternative drugs instead of one saved time and manpower and was a safe procedure. We recommend implementing this method in drug allergy workups.

Background and Objectives: Inborn errors of immunity are increasingly diagnosed in developing countries. Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IGRT) remains the cornerstone of treatment in these patients, and its monitoring has gained importance for optimizing outcomes. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the relationship between IgG trough levels and infections in adults with inborn errors of immunity receiving IGRT. Materials and Methods: Adults diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency and receiving IGRT for at least six months were included. Serum IgG trough levels were measured, and infections during follow-up were systematically recorded. Results: A total of 31 adult patients (CVID: 29, XLA: 2) were analyzed. The mean follow-up was 13 months, with a mean serum IgG trough level of 815.8 ± 205.9 mg/dL, achieved with an average IGRT dose of 498.8 ± 93.0 mg/kg/month. Dose adjustments were made in 35.5% of patients, mostly due to weight changes and clinical indications. Overall, 74.2% of patients had at least one infection requiring antibiotics. Patients with mean IgG trough levels below 850 mg/dL had significantly higher rates of antibiotic-requiring infections (p = 0.032, Mann–Whitney U; mean difference = 0.109, 95% CI: 0.037–0.182; p = 0.005 via t-test). Multivariate regression confirmed that lower IgG trough levels were independently associated with higher antibiotic-requiring infection rates (B = −0.024, 95% CI: −0.045 to −0.002, p = 0.033), while IGRT dose and comorbidities were not significant. Conclusions: IGRT plays a key role in reducing antibiotic-requiring infections in patients with primary immunodeficiency. Regular monitoring and individualized dose adjustments may help optimize outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Characteristics of asthma in the elderly population is not well-known. The aim of the present study was to evaluateasthma in the elderly population, to compare disease characteristics between patients diagnosed <60 (aged asthma) and ≥60 (elderlyasthma) years of age.Materials and methods: The study was a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional type. A questionnaire was filled out to patients 60years of age and over, that have been followed for asthma for at least 3 months. Asthma Control Test (ACT), eight-item MoriskyMedication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was filled out, inhaler device technique was assessed.Results: A total of 399 patients were included from 17 tertiary care centers across the country. Mean age was 67.11 years and 331 (83%)were female. The age at asthma diagnosis was ≥60 in 146 (36.6%) patients. Patients diagnosed ≥60 years were older (p < 0.001), hadhigher education level (p < 0.001), more commonly had first-degree relative with asthma (p = 0.038), asthma related comorbidities(p = 0.009) and accompanying rhinitis/rhinosinusitis (p = 0.005), had better asthma control (p = 0.001), were using less controllermedications (p = 0.014). Inhaler technique was correct in 37% of the patients with no difference in between the groups. Treatmentcompliance was better in elderly asthma patients (p < 0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, having well-controlledasthma (odds ratio = 1.61, CI = 1.04–2.51), and high medication adherence rate (odds ratio = 2.43, CI = 1.48–4.0) were associated withbeing in the elderly asthma group.Conclusion: The characteristics of asthma are different among patients aged 60 years and over which seems to be related to onset age ofasthma. In our cohort, the elderly asthma patients had higher education level, and treatment adherence and asthma control was better.Patients diagnosed ≥60 years of age did not have more severe disease.

Akademisyen Yayınevi yöneticileri, yaklaşık 30 yıllık yayın tecrübesini, kendi tüzel kişiliklerine aktararak uzun zamandan beri, ticarî faaliyetlerini sürdürmektedir. Anılan süre içinde, başta sağlık ve sosyal bilimler, kültürel ve sanatsal konular dahil 750 kitabı yayımlamanın gururu içindedir. Uluslararası yayınevi olmanın alt yapısını tamamlayan Akademisyen, Türkçe ve yabancı dillerde yayın yapmanın yanında, küresel bir marka yaratmanın peşindedir. Bilimsel ve düşünsel çalışmaların kalıcı belgeleri sayılan kitaplar, bilgi kayıt ortamı olarak yüzlerce yılın tanıklarıdır. Matbaanın icadıyla varoluşunu sağlam temellere oturtan kitabın geleceği, her ne kadar yeni buluşların yörüngesine taşınmış olsa da, daha uzun süre hayatımızda yer edineceği muhakkaktır.