Introduction: Cat and dog allergens are common indoor triggers for respiratory allergies such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of cat and dog allergies in adults and analyze changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 8,102 patients who visited an allergy clinic and underwent skin prick testing (SPT) from March 2018 to March 2022: 2 years before and 2 years during the pandemic. Demographic information, clinical attributes, and laboratory results were examined based on patient records. Results: Of 8,102 SPTs performed, 400 (4.9%) were sensitized to cat allergen and 289 (3.6%) to dog allergen. Allergic rhinitis was the predominant clinical diagnosis in both groups. Of the 400 subjects exposed to cats, 240 (60%) experienced allergic symptoms, while of the 289 subjects exposed to dogs, 65 (22.5%) experienced allergic symptoms during exposure. Within the cat-sensitized group, anaphylaxis was observed in 5 patients (1.3%), while no cases of anaphylaxis were reported in the dog-sensitized group. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, patients presenting during the pandemic had higher rates of cat and dog sensitization (5.7% vs. 4.1%; p < 0.05, 5.2% vs. 1.7%; p < 0.05). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in cat and dog allergies among adults. Increased exposure to pet antigens, both directly and indirectly, has resulted in more people becoming sensitized to cats or dogs.

Although allergic diseases are generally considered to be diseases of childhood and youth, the first symptoms of allergic diseases can be seen in old age sometimes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of allergic diseases in the elderly population admitted to the allergy unit on an outpatient basis. The files of the patients who applied to our clinic's allergy unit during the 8-year period were retrospectively analyzed. The data of patients aged ? 65 years were obtained from the files of our allergy unit archive. A total of 1,272 patients aged ? 65 years old were included in the study. The mean age was 70 years (range: 65?97 years). Most of the patients were female (n = 704, 55.3%). Of the patients, 887 (69.8%) presented with cutaneous symptoms, and urticaria was identified in 500 of them (56.3%). Drug hypersensitivity reactions were detected in 175 (13.7%) patients. A total of 71 (5.6%) patients had asthma, 65 (5.1%) had anaphylaxis, 48 (3.8%) had allergic rhinitis, 24 (1.9%) had hymenoptera venom allergy, and 18 (1.4%) had food allergies. Atopy history (OR = 2.323, 95% CI = 1.590-3.393, p < 0.001) and comorbidity (OR = 1.631, 95% CI = 1.050-2.533, p = 0.029) were found to be risk factors for drug hypersensitivity reactions. Male gender (OR = 3.462, 95% CI = 1.097-10.933, p = 0.034) and atopy history (OR = 14.877, 95% CI = 6.081-36.393, p < 0.001) were found to be risk factors for hymenoptera venom allergy. Diagnosis becomes difficult due to the perception that allergic diseases mainly affect young people. Clinical symptoms are not evident in the elderly and age-related difficulties are encountered in diagnostic tests. There is a need to develop specific guidelines for the diagnosis of allergic diseases in the elderly.

Despite the worldwide increase in life expectancy and the elderly population, very little is known about the characteristics of anaphylaxis in older adults. A retrospective scan was made of the files of patients who presented at the Allergy Unit of our clinic between October 2011 and October 2021. The study included 971 patients aged ≥18 years who met the criteria for diagnosis of anaphylaxis. The patients were separated into 2 groups of adults (18–64 years) and older adults (≥65 years). The adult group included 887 (91.3%) patients and the older adult group, 84 (8.7%) patients. Comorbid diseases were seen more frequently in the older adults than in the adult group (p < 0.001). Drugs were seen to be the most common trigger of anaphylaxis in both groups, and this was more common in the older adult group (p = 0.039). Food was a more common trigger of anaphylaxis in the adult group than in the older adult group (p = 0.017). In both groups, the skin was the organ most affected, and was less affected in the older adults than in the adults (p = 0.020). Cardiovascular symptoms were seen significantly more and respiratory symptoms significantly less in the older adult group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). Admission to the hospital and the intensive care unit was more frequent in the older adult group and rates of adrenalin administration were higher compared to the adult group (p < 0.001 for all). Anaphylaxis in the older adults is generally caused by drugs. Older adults were found to have more cardiovascular symptoms and more frequent adrenalin injections, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the frequency of autoimmune diseases (ADs) accompanying common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and evaluate clinical and immunological features, organ manifestation, and effects on malignancy and mortality. Patients and methods: The retrospective study was conducted with 85 patients (47 males, 38 females; median age: 38 years; range, 30 to 53 years) with CVID between January 2013 and January 2023. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of ADs: CVID patients with ADs [AD-CVID (+) group; n=36] and CVID patients without ADs [AD-CVID (–) group; n=49]. The clinical and immunological features of the groups were compared, and the effects on organ manifestations, malignancy development, and mortality were evaluated. Results: The diagnostic delay in the AD-CVID (+) group was 84 months and was longer than that in the AD-CVID (–) group. The most common AD was cytopenia, particularly immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Splenomegaly was the most common organ manifestation. Sjögren syndrome was the most common rheumatic disease. There was no difference between the immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte subgroup levels, whereas the class-switched memory B cell levels were lower in the AD-CVID (+) group. While malignancy, particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma, was more common in the AD-CVID (+) group, no difference was observed in mortality between the groups. Conclusion: Adult CVID patients with ADs have a longer diagnostic delay. Autoimmune conditions, particularly autoimmune cytopenias and inflammatory diseases, are much more common in patients with CVID than in the general population. Therefore, physicians’ awareness of autoimmune manifestations in CVID patients should be increased to prevent delays in diagnosis.

Introduction: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern characterized by recurrent angioedema attacks caused by excessive accumulation of bradykinin in the tissues. Its symptoms resembling clinical symptoms of histaminergic angioedema can make...