Allergy & Asthma Flashcards

A patient with allergic asthma is exposed to cat dander. Which mediator released by mast cells is primarily responsible for the immediate bronchoconstriction?

Answer: Histamine

Histamine is the primary mast cell mediator responsible for immediate bronchoconstriction during an acute allergic reaction.

Which spirometry pattern is most characteristic of asthma?

Answer: Reduced FEV1/FVC ratio with normal FVC

Asthma produces an obstructive pattern with a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio while FVC remains relatively normal.

An 8-year-old with moderate persistent asthma is well-controlled on inhaled corticosteroids. What is the recommended reassessment interval before stepping down therapy?

Answer: 2–3 months

NAEPP guidelines recommend reassessing asthma control every 2–3 months before stepping down therapy in well-controlled patients.

Which allergen is most strongly associated with year-round perennial allergic rhinitis in the United States?

Answer: House dust mite

House dust mite is the most common cause of perennial allergic rhinitis because it is present year-round in household environments.

A patient using a metered-dose inhaler without a spacer is likely depositing most of the medication in which location?

Answer: Oropharynx

Without a spacer, large aerosol particles impact and deposit primarily in the oropharynx rather than reaching the lower airways.

Which cytokine is most responsible for driving IgE class switching in B cells during allergic sensitization?

Answer: IL-4

IL-4 is the principal cytokine that induces B cells to undergo class switching to IgE production during Th2-driven allergic sensitization.

A patient with asthma reports nocturnal symptoms awakening her more than once per week. According to NAEPP classification, this indicates at least which level of severity?

Answer: Moderate persistent

Nocturnal awakenings more than once per week but not nightly indicates moderate persistent asthma according to NAEPP criteria.