More than half of asthma cases linked to allergies

According to a new study in JACI, reviewed by WebMD, more than half of asthma cases in the U.S. are linked to allergies, with sensitivity to cats responsible for 29% of allergy-related asthma. Allergic sensitivity to cats was associated with a threefold increase in asthma risk.

It comes as no surprise, that the new asthma guidelines by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommend immunotherapy for treatment of asthma for the first time since their inception (quote from page 195): “The Expert Panel recommends that allergen immunotherapy be considered for patients who have persistent asthma if evidence is clear of a relationship between symptoms and exposure to an allergen to which the patient is sensitive (Evidence B).”

References:
Cat Allergy Linked to Asthma. WebMD.com.
Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR 3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).