WHAT: The 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) brings together leading
allergists and immunologists from around the world.
WHO: Scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of
Health, will present their latest research findings at the ACAAI
Annual Meeting. For more than 60 years, NIAID has supported allergy
and immunology research at U.S. and international institutions and
conducted studies within its own laboratories to improve the health
of millions of people.
WHEN: November 11-16, 2010
WHERE: Room 120BCD, Phoenix Convention Center, Ariz., Press Room
121B
Presentation Highlights:
Below are advance summaries of selected presentations describing
NIAID-funded research. This information is embargoed until the
scheduled time of presentation, as noted below.
Sneak Preview of the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and
Management of Food Allergy in the United States
Food allergies affect approximately 5 percent of children and 4
percent of adults in the United States and may be increasing in
prevalence. Despite the risk of severe allergic reactions and even
death, currently no specific treatments exist for food allergies,
and the disease can be managed only by avoiding the allergen or
treating the symptoms. Moreover, the diagnosis and management of
food allergies can vary from one clinical practice to another, and
patients frequently confuse nonallergic food reactions, such as
food intolerance, with food allergies. In response to these issues,
NIAID, working with 34 professional medical organizations, federal
agencies and patient advocacy groups, led the development of
clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food
allergy. These guidelines are intended for use by a wide variety of
healthcare professionals. Topics addressed include the
epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis and management of food
allergy, including the management of severe symptoms such as
anaphylaxis. Although the guidelines will not be published until
December 2010, Matthew Fenton, Ph.D., from NIAID’s Division of
Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation, will provide a preview of
the guidelines.
Title: Symposium: What is New in Food Allergy?
Presenter: Matthew Fenton, Ph.D., NIAID, Bethesda, Md.
When: Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, 3:30 p.m. Mountain Time
Press Briefing: Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time
Issues and Advances in Primary Immunodeficiency Relevant to
Allergists
Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDDs) are usually caused by
genetic defects in the cells of the immune system. Typically these
inherited genetic defects are identified because an individual has
an increased susceptibility to infection and cancers. In addition,
patients may have autoimmune, growth, skin and bowel problems.
Steven Holland, M.D., will discuss the relationship between two
specific PIDDs, hyper-immunoglobulin E (IgE) recurrent infection
syndrome (also known as Job’s syndrome) and DOCK8 deficiency and
approaches to treatment. Both syndromes are characterized by
increased levels of IgE antibodies, superficial and systemic
bacterial and fungal infections, and eczema. Diseases of IgE
regulation are important to recognize and diagnose because they
have distinct, manageable symptoms. Moreover, because these
diseases involve the regulation of IgE, a key molecule thought to
be involved in asthma and allergy, they also can help researchers
better understand what drives asthma and allergic diseases.
Title: General Session: Current Understanding of Primary
Immunodeficiency Associated with Elevated IgE
Presenter: Steven Holland, M.D., NIAID, Bethesda, Md.
When: Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time
The Great Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Debate
Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic skin
disorder associated with dry, itchy skin. People with atopic
dermatitis are prone to persistent viral and bacterial skin
infections and can have scaly lesions on their face, neck and hands
that weep clear fluid. Severe complications of atopic dermatitis
include eczema herpeticum, a skin infection caused by herpes virus,
and eczema vaccinatum, a skin infection caused by vaccinia virus,
which is used in the smallpox vaccine. The panelists, who treat
patients with atopic dermatitis, will discuss what factors play
major roles in the development, complications and clinical features
of the disease.
Title: General Session: The Great Atopic Dermatitis (AD) Raft
Debate: The Greatest Role in Pathophysiology of AD
Panelists: Mark Boguniewicz, M.D., National Jewish Health,
Denver
Mitchell Grayson, M.D., Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin,
Milwaukee
Donald Leung, M.D., National Jewish Health, Denver
Lawrence Schwartz, M.D., Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond
When: Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time
