I. Executive Summary
Background
The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document.
Methods
ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary.
Results
ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided.
Conclusion
This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS.
LLERGIC RHINITIS AFFECTS approximately 20% to 40% of the US population. 1 Currently, 2 forms of specific immunotherapy (subcutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy) are used clinically in the United States. Considerable interest has emerged in sublingual immunotherapy, which involves placement of the allergen under the tongue for local absorption to desensitize the allergic individual over an extended treatment period to diminish allergic symptoms. Compared with subcutaneous immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy is easy to administer, does not involve administration of injections, and may be administered at home, avoiding the inconvenience of office visits. The opportunity for home-based therapy makes it potentially suitable for use in medically underserved areas. In 1996, a World Health Organization Task Force on Immunotherapy cited the For editorial comment see p 1297. CME available online at www.jamanetworkcme.com and questions on p 1299.
B-cells are important in the development of type 1 diabetes, but their role is not completely defined. Although B-cells produce autoantibodies, these are not thought to be pathogenic; however, their antigen-presenting function is postulated to be critical. To examine the relative importance of these functions of B-cells, we have generated nonobese diabetic (NOD) B-cell-deficient mice that express a transgene encoding a mutant heavy chain immunoglobulin transgene on the cell surface but cannot secrete immunoglobulins (mIgs). This allowed us to dissect the importance of the relative roles of antigen presentation, dissociated from antibody production. We found that the expression of the mIg transgene increased insulitis and the incidence of diabetes compared with transgene-negative NOD B-celldeficient mice, indicating that the ability to produce antibodies is not necessary for B-cells to have some effect on the development of diabetes. However, diabetes was not restored to the level seen in normal NOD mice. This may relate to reduced ability to activate an islet-specific T-cell repertoire, presumably due to the reduced islet-specific B-cell repertoire. Our results implicate a specific antigen-presenting function for Bcells. Diabetes 53
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