Mark Kacar

Dr. Mark Kacar

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18 January 2023 in Clinical & Experimental Allergy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MKMark Kacar
Mark Kacar
Matija RijavecMatija Rijavec
Matija Rijavec
JŠJulij Šelb
Julij Šelb
PKPeter Korošec
Peter Korošec
The association between Hymenoptera venom‐triggered anaphylaxis (HVA) and clonal mast cell‐related disorders (cMCD) has been known for decades. However, recent breakthroughs in peripheral blood screening for KIT p.D816V missense variant have revealed the true extent of this clinical association whilst adding to our understanding of the underlying aetiology. Thus, recent large studies highlighted the presence of KIT p.D816V among 18.2% and 23% of patients with severe Hymenoptera venom‐triggered anaphylaxis. A significant proportion of those patients have normal serum basal tryptase (BST) levels, with no cutaneous findings such as urticaria pigmentosa or other systemic findings such as organomegaly that would have suggested the presence of cMCD. These findings of an increased prevalence suggest that the impact of cMCD on anaphylaxis could be clinically underestimated and that the leading question for clinicians could be changed from ‘how many patients with cMCD have anaphylaxis?’ to ‘how many patients with anaphylaxis have cMCD?’. The discovery of hereditary α‐tryptasemia (HαT)—a genetic trait caused by an increased copy number of the Tryptase Alpha/Beta 1 (TPSAB1) gene‐, first described in 2016, is now known to underlie the majority of cases of elevated BST outside of cMCD and chronic kidney disease. HαT is the first common heritable genetic modifier of anaphylaxis described, and it is associated with increased risk for severe HVA (relative risk = 2.0), idiopathic anaphylaxis, and an increased prevalence of anaphylaxis in patients with cMCD, possibly due to the unique activity profile of α/β ‐tryptase heterotetramers that may potentiate immediate hypersensitivity reaction severity. Our narrative review aims to highlight recent research to have increased our understanding of cMCD and HαT, through recent lessons learned from studying their association with HVA. Additionally, we examined the studies of mast cell‐related disorders in food and drug allergy in an effort to determine whether one should also consider cMCD and/or HαT in cases of severe anaphylaxis triggered by food or drugs.

1 March 2020 in Journal of Inflammation Research
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Journal Article
Open access
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MKMark Kacar
Mark Kacar
SSSinisa Savic
Sinisa Savic
JHJeroen Ch van der Hilst
Jeroen Ch van der Hilst
Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the most prevalent genetic autoinflammatory disorder. In most patients, treatment with colchicine can prevent attacks of fever and inflammation. However, 5%– 10% of patients are resistant to colchicine treatment, while a similar percentage cannot tolerate colchicine in doses needed to prevent attacks. For these patients, Canakinumab, a full human antibody against IL-1β, has been approved recently by the FDA and EMA. In this article, we present a systematic review of the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Canakinumab in FMF patients who cannot tolerate colchicine or who are resistant to colchicine treatment.

2 April 2025 in Contact Dermatitis
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Mojca Bizjak-SuranMojca Bizjak-Suran
Mojca Bizjak-Suran
OAOlivier Aerts
Olivier Aerts
DPDavid Pesqué
David Pesqué
MRMelba Munoz Roldan
Melba Munoz Roldan
RARiccardo Asero
Riccardo Asero
AGAna M. M Giménez-Arnau
Ana M. M Giménez-Arnau
Contact urticaria (CoU) is an immediate contact reaction occurring within minutes to an hour after exposure to specific proteins or chemicals. CoU is categorised into non‐immunologic (NI‐CoU) and immunologic (I‐CoU) types, with I‐CoU potentially leading to anaphylaxis. Both forms of CoU can be associated with protein contact dermatitis and the CoU syndrome. Patients with I‐CoU may also have other type I (immediate) allergic diseases, such as allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, asthma or food allergy. This review provides a detailed overview of CoU and related conditions, focusing on triggers, diagnostic methods and management strategies. NI‐CoU is typically triggered by low molecular weight chemicals, while I‐CoU involves IgE‐mediated hypersensitivity to both high molecular weight proteins and low molecular weight chemicals. Early diagnosis is crucial, though CoU is often underrecognized. The diagnostic approach includes a thorough medical history, physical examination, evaluation of photographs, (non)invasive skin tests and in vitro assessments. Management strategies prioritise trigger avoidance and pharmacological treatments when avoidance is not fully possible. For I‐CoU, second‐generation H1‐antihistamines are the first‐line treatment. Severe cases of I‐CoU may benefit from anti‐IgE therapy (omalizumab). Patients at risk of anaphylaxis should carry an adrenaline auto‐injector and wear a medical alert bracelet.

16 March 2024 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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AAAdam Al-Hakim
Adam Al-Hakim
MKMark Kacar
Mark Kacar
SSSinisa Savic
Sinisa Savic
Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous primary immunodeficiency disorder characterised by impaired antibody production, leading to recurrent infections and an increased susceptibility to viral pathogens. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of CVID’s relationship with viral infections, encompassing disease pathogenesis, key presenting features, specific monogenic susceptibilities, the impact of COVID-19, and existing treatment options. The pathogenesis of CVID involves complex immunological dysregulation, including defects in B cell development, antibody class switching, and plasma cell differentiation. These abnormalities contribute to an impaired humoral immune response against viral agents, predisposing individuals with CVID to a broad range of viral infections. Genetic factors play a prominent role in CVID, and monogenic drivers of CVID-like disease are increasingly identified through advanced genomic studies. Some monogenic causes of the CVID-like phenotype appear to cause specific viral susceptibilities, and these are explored in the review. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted CVID patients’ heightened predisposition to severe outcomes with viral infections. This review explores the clinical manifestations, outcomes, and potential therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 in CVID patients. It assesses the efficacy of prophylactic measures for COVID-19, including vaccination and immunoglobulin replacement therapy, as well as trialled therapies.

21 June 2026 in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
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Journal Article
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Riccardo CastagnoliRiccardo Castagnoli
Riccardo Castagnoli
Martina VottoMartina Votto
Martina Votto
ITIvan Taietti
Ivan Taietti
MDMaría Isabel Delgado Dolset
María Isabel Delgado Dolset
Rubén Fernández-SantamaríaRubén Fernández-Santamaría
Rubén Fernández-Santamaría
TFThe Eaaci-Clemens von Pirquet Foundation
The Eaaci-Clemens von Pirquet Foundation
Pediatric immunological and allergic conditions represent a broad spectrum, ranging from highly prevalent polygenic disorders (e.g., food allergy, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis) to rarer monogenic primary atopic disorders. The management of these conditions has undergone a paradigm shift in recent years. Moving away from a “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach, precision medicine aims to deliver the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. By integrating clinical phenotypes with molecular endotypes and using specific biomarkers and “Omics” techniques, scientists and clinicians can now employ targeted biological therapies that significantly improve patient outcomes. By identifying early therapeutic windows and specific biomarkers, pediatric specialists can implement personalized interventions that halt the atopic march and mitigate the global burden of chronic allergic diseases. By shifting the focus from symptom management to the neutralization of specific molecular pathways, it is now possible to achieve better disease control, reduce side effects associated with broad‐spectrum treatments such as systemic corticosteroids, and improve the quality of life for patients with refractory allergic diseases. This review, generated during a seminar funded by the Clemens von Pirquet Foundation, aims to delineate the “rare to common” pipeline, illustrating how precision medicine tools, including multi‐omics, biomarkers, and artificial intelligence methods, can connect mechanistic pathways across the immunological spectrum. image

16 December 2024 in BioDrugs
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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MKMark Kacar
Mark Kacar
AAAdam Al-Hakim
Adam Al-Hakim
SSSinisa Savic
Sinisa Savic