New technology helps manage allergy, asthma

Unfortunately for those suffering from it, asthma, a disorder of the respiratory system in which the air passages in the lungs narrow progressively, there are no immunizations or preventive treatments.

The best prevention is to avoid known triggering factors. Thus, diagnosing the cause and helping those affected to have an improved quality of life is a growing concern of physicians worldwide.

The Pharmacia division of Trianon International recently sponsored a scientific meeting that discussed the latest technology in allergy and asthma evaluation using simple blood tests in the state-of-the-art UniCAP system.

The lecture was held at the Manila Doctors Hospital and was attended by several medical experts from various fields. The key lecturer was Dr. Benigno Agbayani Sr., a professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine and one of the pioneers and respected authorities in allergy and immunology in the country.

Prevalence

Medical experts, like Agbayani, are alarmed by the increasing prevalence of asthma in the country. According to asthma specialists, 80 percent of asthma cases in the Philippines are caused by allergies. Serious complications are increasing, thus accurate diagnosis and treatment are essential.

According to Agbayani, there are no immunization or preventive treatment for asthma. The most common reported causes of allergic asthma are the minute, airborne particles inhaled into the lungs. These particles are also known as inhalant allergens that include plant pollens and mold spores, animal dander (tiny pieces of animal hair and skin) and remains from dust mites and cockroaches.

Inhalant allergens can lead to hyperactivity of the airways or bronchospasm, thus reducing the space which air can travel through the lungs. This leads to a full-blown asthma attack.

Skin prick test

The most common technique for determining allergens that cause asthma is by the skin prick test (SPT). However, this may not be possible in some cases such as in young children or in very old patients with wrinkled skin, and those who are taking antihistamines.

Doctors are now counting on the latest breakthrough in allergy testing technique – the Pharmacia Unicap system. One important additional feature of the test is determination of the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the body.

A simple blood sample is all that is needed to obtain a measurement of ECP level. Through the ECP test, the doctor will know the severity of the bronchial inflammation during an asthma attack.

ECP is one of the intermediary substances present in the lungs of asthmatic patients that are released from the activated eosinophils during an asthmatic attack.

Highly beneficial

Detection of allergic asthma through ECP measurement can guide doctors in managing asthmatic patients and reducing their attacks. This information would enable doctors to determine the more definite cause of a patient’s asthma. Consequently, it would allow the patient to take the necessary precautions.

"The availability of the UniCAP technology in the Philippines is highly beneficial for us doctors and for our patients as well," Agbayani said.

Aside from the Manila Doctors’ Hospital, the state-of-the-art UniCAP allergy technology is also available at the Medical City, Asiatic Medical Laboratory, Healthway Medical Clinics (all branches), Asia Pacific Diagnostic Laboratory (all branches), Perpetual Help Medical Center, Advent Specialist Care, Sim’s Medical Laboratory and the Medic World.

For queries on this state-of-the-art allergy testing, one may log on to www.isitallergy.com or call Trianon International at 892-0723 to 24.