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The Allergy Center in Hiroshima University Hospital (Hiroshima, Japan)

The Allergy Center in Hiroshima University Hospital

Overview

Hiroshima University Hospital has a long history of allergy treatment and research, which started in the 1980s.  It was officially appointed as the allergy base hospital of Hiroshima Prefecture in 2018. The Allergy Center in Hiroshima University Hospital (ACHUH) started in 2019, and is comprised of those medical specialists in respiratory medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, ophthalmology, and otorhinolaryngology who have extensive experience in allergic diseases, as well as pharmacists, nurses, and registered dietitians with specialized knowledge and skills related to medical problems that include asthma, food allergies, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis. In addition, Hiroshima University Hospital has an educational program to train allergy specialists. Also, in order to disseminate standard treatments for allergic diseases, training is given to medical staff engaged in allergic disease medical care, as well as training for teachers at schools and nurseries.

ACHUH conducts basic research to elucidate the pathophysiology of allergic diseases and conducts research and analysis to understand the actual conditions of allergic diseases. Prof. Michihiro Hide, the Head of ACHUH, is also the Head of the Department of Dermatology, and is one of the world’s leading researchers in the field of urticaria and angioedema. The Department of Dermatology was certified as one of the Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCARE) by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN).

All patients who visit ACHUH are carefully treated by the appropriate specialists in the center, and the members of ACHUH work collaboratively to improve the lives of their patients and extend the frontiers of medicine.

Clinical Practice Guidelines

Prof. Hide and Dr. Satoshi Morioke are members of the Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Urticaria 2018 of the Japanese Dermatological Association. Prof. Hide and Dr. Akio Tanaka are members of the Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis 2018 of the Japanese Dermatological Association and Japanese Society of Allergology.

Pediatrics

Prof. Satoshi Okada and his staff in the Department of Pediatrics conduct basic research to establish prompt and accurate diagnosis in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases. They perform multi-omics based systemic gene expression assays to increase diagnostic yield in inconclusive primary immunodeficiency patients after comprehensive genomic study. Based on the identification of pathogenic mutations, they clarify the molecular mechanisms that underlie host susceptibility to infectious diseases. The identification of responsible genes helps in understanding the non-redundant role of a particular gene on human immune systems.

Otorhinolaryngology

The unfailing interest in allergy-related research has also been encouraged and continued by Prof. Yukio Takeno and his staff in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Their efforts focus on unveiling problems and the development of novel treatments related to allergic rhinitis, Japanese cedar pollinosis, and laryngeal allergies. The advent of intractable type 2 airway inflammation, termed eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS), based on Japan multi-center cohorts, necessitates a road map to precision medicine at the molecular level. Prof. Takeno’s group also endeavors to develop surgical interventions directed toward benefit to these patients.

Respiratory Medicine

Prof. Noboru Hattori and his staff in the Department of Respiratory medicine are conducting several ongoing multi-center investigations of asthma: long-term effects of asthma on lung function impairment, adherence, and patients’ preference of inhaler devices, association of physical activity with asthma symptoms, quality of life, and systemic complications. They also organize seminars on asthma management that include a wide range of medical professionals.

Ophthalmology

Prof. Yoshiaki Kiuchi and his staff in the Department of Ophthalmology conduct research on allergic eye diseases in collaboration with scientists in a wide range of disciplines, such as regeneration medicine, nano-technology, and artificial intelligence.