rebeccasaff

Allergy/Immunology physician, Medical Education

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Great poster by Dr. Daniel DiGiacomo and Dr. Farmer on COVID vaccine response in our immune deficient patients! @MGHAllergy @mghaifellows

[United States Drug Allergy Registry @USdrugallergy]

@AleenaBanerjiMD @AaaaiFoundation @KimberlyBlumen1 @sokol_mdphd @MGHAllergy @MGHMedicine @AAAAI_org Here she is again! #CovidVaccine #immunodeficiency

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Shout out to the Curbsides for stressing the importance of penicillin allergy testing in order to use the best regimen to treat H. Pylori - your friendly neighborhood allergist is here to help! #curbsiders

[Aleena Banerji, MD @AleenaBanerjiMD]

Data clearly show diminishing representation for women and URG scientists. Great presentation by Dr. Hannah Valentine #AAAAI2022 keynote session @AAAAI_org

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

We're so excited to welcome our 2022-2023 MGH Allergy/Immunology fellows!

[Zachary Rubin, MD @rubin_allergy]

Do you need an allergist? @ACAAI @AAAAI_org

[Anna Wolfson, MD @AnnaWolfsonMD]

1/ #tweetorial of our new @JACIInPress manuscript #inpress, in which PEG and polysorbate skin testing is shown to have a limited role in evaluation of patients seen after reported first dose mRNA #COVID19Vaccine allergic reaction. https://t.co/7bL4mMPKf4

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Great study by @LaceyRobinsonMD @KimberlyBlumen1 - evaluation of allergic symptoms is so important to get people fully vaccinated if possible!

[Kimberly Blumenthal, MD, MSc @KimberlyBlumen1]

1/we prospectively studied >50K @MassGenBrigham employees including the 2.5% who has allergic type symptoms after @pfizer @moderna_tx #mrnavaccine #COVIDVaccination. We show that allergic symptoms are associated with incomplete vaccination (3% vs 0.6%; OR>5).

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Great work from MGH Allergy!

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

The rate of anaphylaxis among ~65,000 MGH employees getting mRNA vaccines: 16 (0.025%); all recovered.
98% had no sign of any acute allergic reaction
https://t.co/694C3Cg0A9 by @KimberlyBlumen1 @PaigeWickner @LaceyRobinsonMD @MGHAllergy @MassGenBrigham& colleagues @JAMA_current

[Erica S. Shenoy, MD, PhD @ericashenoy]

💯 practical info for patients & clinicians:
1. Delayed LARGE local rxns happen (☑️ out the 🖼️@nejm). For real!!!
2. If they happen, RELAX & REST ASSURED. Manage conservatively &...don't #missyoursecondshot!💉
3. Clinicians: contribute!!! submit allergy cases to @KimberlyBlumen1

[Kimberly Blumenthal, MD, MSc @KimberlyBlumen1]

The first 12 complete cases #inpress @NEJM today! NO case was more severe with dose 2. https://t.co/SJliMD1ynp @LaceyRobinsonMD @AleenaBanerjiMD @DrEstherFreeman @ericashenoy @AnnaWolfsonMD @rebeccasaff @CaitlinBurk @MGHAllergy

[Dr. Glaucomflecken @DGlaucomflecken]

No known drug allergies

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Conjunctivitis with Dupilumab - if mild to moderate, can consider spacing to every 3-4 weeks to see if that is helpful. #AAAAI21

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

I think Keep Calm and Give Epi might be my new motto!

[Dr. Dave Stukus @AllergyKidsDoc]

Great summary presented at #AAAAI21 as to why antihistamines & steroids do not treat anaphylaxis:

They take too long & don't treat all the symptoms!

Epinephrine is the ONLY effective treatment of anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine works fast, treats all symptoms, and is very safe to use.

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Dr. Guttman-Yassky: Exciting data on use of IL4/IL13 blockade in treatment of alopecia areata. #AAAAI21

[Aleena Banerji, MD @AleenaBanerjiMD]

Session 201: Telemedicine and Drug Allergy: #telemedicine can improve clinic workflows, increase practice efficiency and offer allergy care in more remote areas of the country where there are no allergists #AAAAI21

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Science experiment with Mr. 9 - swabbing mom's phone vs dad's. Turns out alcoholing your phone multiple times a day is rather effective!

[Dr. Dave Stukus @AllergyKidsDoc]

If I could have one billboard:

"Allergies are associated with elevated IgE levels, but elevated IgE levels alone do not diagnose allergy."

VERY common cause of misdiagnosis, esp for #foodallergy.

Meaningless sensitization (+ IgE test) is WAY more common than allergy. #AAAAI21

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Dose and regimen very important in OIT - at 2000mg/d, 14% EoE-like syndrome, 23% required epi - at 125mg/d, 74% able to tolerate 300mg but no epi and no EoE. More work to be done. #AAAAI21

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

Excellent oral abstract by Dr. Li of BWH - A 2 step NSAID challenge was able to safely delabel >85% of patients but many of the reactions developed after 60min (so watch patients longer after 2nd step). #AAAAI #aimeded

[rebeccasaff @rebeccasaff]

#AAAAI21 Kaminsky et al (poster 49) shows that omalizumab reduces frequency of attacks in idiopathic anaphylaxis (and is a much better option than steroids if H1, H2 blockers, LTRA not effective). More evidence that this is a great option!