Research & Publications
A Clinical Practice Fuelled by Research
Scientific publications, books and training in the service of evidence-based medicine.
Bibliography
Scientific Publications
A selection of work published in peer-reviewed journals, with a particular focus on distinguishing allergic from obstructive profiles in paediatric sleep disorders, as well as on contact allergies to antiseptics and their excipients — two research themes developed across publications and congress presentations, and followed as clinical follow-up subjects for the allergic children seen at the practice. This distinction between profiles draws in part on her sub-specialisation in neonatal intensive care, which highlighted the need for different management between the allergic child and the infant presenting congenital abnormalities. Open-access links allow free consultation of the full text where available.
Sleep Disorders in the Allergic Child
K. Kefala, P. Guérin — Revue Française d'Allergologie, volume 62, issue 8, 2022, pp. 739-743.
Allergies, asthma treatment and eviction diet have a significant impact on the respiratory effort during sleep and the apnoea hypopnea index in children with obstructive sleep apnea-obesity/asthma association: a STROBE-compliant study
Kalomoira Kefala, Philippe Guerin — Medicine®, 105(7):e41730, 13 February 2026. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041730.
A 34-month-old child with persistent severe snoring
K. Kefala (Paris), P. Guerin (Riom-ès-Montagnes) — Case report shared on the ERS Respiratory Channel (European Respiratory Society), 2022.
Sleep disturbance and growth stagnation in a 6-year-old child
K. Kefala (Paris), A. Linglart (Paris), P. Guerin (Riom-ès-Montagnes) — Case report shared on the ERS Respiratory Channel (European Respiratory Society), 2022.
The Role of Allergies and Tobacco Exposure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, and Sublingual Immunotherapy in Children With an Allergic Profile
K. Kefala, P. Guerin — ERJ Open Research, 7 (suppl 7): 39. DOI: 10.1183/23120541.sleepandbreathing-2021.39, published 3 May 2021. Presented at the ERS Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation (RFMV) congress, Berlin, 15-17 February 2024.
Persistently Increased Respiratory Effort During Sleep in Children With OSA Is Indicative of Allergy/Asthma, Obesity Risk and Inadequate Treatment
Kalomoira Kefala, François Lavaud, Agnès Linglart, Philippe Guerin — European Respiratory Journal, 58 (suppl 65): PA3083. DOI: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA3083, published 25 November 2021.
Respiratory and Non-IgE Allergies Increase Respiratory Effort During Sleep in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea–Asthma Association; Asthma Treatment Decreases the Apnoea-Hypopnea Index
K. Kefala, F. Lavaud, P. Guerin — European Respiratory Journal, 60 (suppl 66): 3717. DOI: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2022.3717, published 1 December 2022.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Biseptine in a Child
K. Kefala, C. Ponvert — Revue française d'allergologie, 60 (2020), pp. 614-618. DOI: 10.1016/j.reval.2020.08.003.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Chlorhexidine-Containing Antiseptics and Their Excipients in Children: A Series of Six Cases
K. Kefala, C. Ponvert — Pediatric Dermatology, 2022;1-3. DOI: 10.1111/pde.15127. This work highlights the possible role of antiseptic excipients — also found in some cosmetics and emollients used to treat atopic dermatitis — in triggering skin allergic reactions.
Excessive Adrenergic Stimulation Triggers Narcolepsy and Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis (FPIES) Along With Increased Respiratory Effort During Sleep, Tissue Hypoxia, and Oxidative Stress Through Transformed Foods and Emerging Allergens: Which Allele Should Be Explored in Narcolepsy Cases Negative for HLA-DQB1*06:02?
K. Kefala, P. Guerin — Sleep Medicine, 2026;138. Presented at the World Sleep Congress 2025, Singapore.
Life-Threatening Infection Due to Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Case Report and Review
Kefala-Agoropoulou K, Protonotariou E, Vitti D, Sarafidou S, Anastasiou A, Kollios K, Roilides E — European Journal of Pediatrics, 2010 Jan;169(1):47-53. Epub 2009 Apr 3. PMID: 19343363.
Cutaneous Zygomycosis in an Infant With Pearson Syndrome
Kefala-Agoropoulou K, Farmaki E, Tsiouris J, Roilides E, Velegraki A — Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 2008 Apr;50(4):939-40. PMID: 17914738.
Pearson Syndrome in an Infant Heterozygous for C282Y Allele of HFE Gene
Kefala-Agoropoulou K, Roilides E, Lazaridou A, Karatza E, Farmaki E, Tsantali H, Augoustides-Savvopoulou P, Tsiouris J — Hematology, 2007 Dec;12(6):549-53. PMID: 17852457.
Clinical Profiles of Sleep Disorders in the Allergic Child
A clinical study distinguishing the allergic profile from the obstructive profile in paediatric sleep disorders.
Home Paediatric Respiratory Polygraphy
A clinical study distinguishing the allergic profile from the obstructive profile in paediatric sleep disorders.
The full list of publications, along with links to open-access versions, will be added shortly. To receive a specific publication, please feel free to contact us.
Peer Review
Reviewer for International Journals
In addition to her own research, Dr Kefala contributes to the peer review of scientific articles submitted to international peer-reviewed journals.
Scientific Article Review
Reviewing articles in the fields of allergology, paediatrics, and respiratory and sleep medicine, prior to their publication in indexed international journals.
Books Published by Dr Kefala
Convinced of the importance of sharing her expertise beyond the practice, Dr Kefala writes books for families and healthcare professionals, to help them better understand and support allergic children.
- Books for parents of allergic children
- Educational resources for healthcare professionals
- Insights drawn from everyday clinical practice
Educational Resources
Preparation Guides for Home Sleep Studies (PG/PSG)
Developed over the years at the practice, these information sheets help families prepare their child for the at-home sleep study (respiratory polygraphy or polysomnography). They have been validated by the ESRS (European Sleep Research Society) and are featured on its website as a useful educational resource for families.
Download the guide →
Continuing Education
Additional Training
Additional training courses undertaken to enrich everyday clinical practice.
CPD Certificate — University Clinical Tutor Training
Continuing Professional Development (2024) on welcoming and supervising specialty residents within the practice.
View certificate →CNP Allergology Pathway Validation 2023-2025
Pathway validated by the French National Professional Council of Allergology, attesting to participation in EAACI congresses and contribution to the editorial board of an indexed scientific journal.
View certificate →Validation Certificate — First Year of the DIU in Paediatric Pulmonology
Validation issued by Pr Ralph Epaud (Intercommunal Hospital Centre of Créteil, 2015), as part of the specialisation in paediatric pulmonology.
View certificate →Seminars on Complex Paediatric Allergology
Participation in seminars sharing clinical experience on difficult-to-diagnose allergy cases.
EAACI Allergy School — An Insight into Allergen Immunotherapy and Allergy
Course of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) dedicated to allergen immunotherapy, Athens, Greece, 11-13 September 2014.
European Respiratory Society (ERS) Bronchoscopy Course — Paris
Bronchoscopy training course of the European Respiratory Society, Paris, 17-19 March 2014.
European Respiratory Society (ERS) Bronchoscopy Course — Athens
Bronchoscopy training course of the European Respiratory Society, Athens, Greece, 25-27 September 2014.
ERS Congress, Amsterdam (2015) — Participation in Several Courses
Thoracic ultrasound; hands-on polysomnography; chest tube and indwelling catheter placement and management; paediatric lung function tests reference values; spirometry train the trainer; how to reach targeted education outcomes; getting the most out of literature searches; how to work with the EU funding system; live pulmonary endoscopy.
CIPP XIII — 13th International Congress of Paediatric Pulmonology
Bruges, Belgium, 26-29 June 2014.
ERS Congress, Munich (2014) — Participation in Several Courses
Paediatric long-term ventilation (ME010); interpretation of CPET with arterial blood gas analysis; high flow nasal oxygen (MS04); hot topics in paediatric allergy (PG15); spirometry knowledge and basic skills (European Spirometry Training Programme).
Training in Children's Sleep Disorders
ESRS Paediatric Sleep School — Certificate of Attendance
A 2.5-day course by the European Sleep Research Society dedicated to paediatric sleep (Bertinoro, Italy, 11-13 April 2024).
View certificate →SFRMS Course — Paediatric Polygraphy
Course of the French Society for Sleep Research and Medicine (SFRMS) dedicated to paediatric polygraphy, Lille, November 2018.
PSASS — Diagnostic Module for Adult OSAS
Training in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in adults, 28 June 2018.
PSASS — Advanced Module: Ventilatory Polygraphy and Management of Adult OSAS
Advanced training in ventilatory polygraphy and the management of adult obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, 20 September 2018.
Cardiosleep — Diagnostic Module, Respiratory Polygraphy
Training in diagnosis by respiratory polygraphy, 21-22 September 2018.
Cardiosleep — Therapeutic Module
Training in the therapeutic management of sleep-related breathing disorders, 13 June 2019.
Cardiosleep — Advanced Module
Advanced training, 14-15 June 2019.
Journées Angevines — Polysomnography
Polysomnography training, Angers University Hospital / Cidelec, 2019.
Scientific Outreach
Congress Participation
Regular attendance at scientific congresses in allergology and paediatric pulmonology.
EAACI Congress (European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)
Participation in annual congresses dedicated to advances in paediatric allergology.
WAC (World Allergy Congress)
Participation in the global congress dedicated to international advances in allergology.
European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress
Participation in congresses dedicated to respiratory disorders in children and adults.
World Sleep Society (WSS) Congress
Participation in international congresses dedicated to sleep research and clinical practice.
eSleep Congress
Participation in the congress dedicated to advances in sleep medicine.
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Congress — BRAIN Conference
Poster presenting first original data on allergic autistic children with sleep disorders, reflecting the practice's attention to allergic autistic children (Crete, 2025).
View poster →Scientific Communications
Congress Communications
A detailed overview of the posters and oral presentations given by Dr Kefala throughout her career, from her early work in general paediatrics, haematology and infectious diseases in Greece and Belgium, to her current research in paediatric allergology and sleep medicine.
Allergy Destroys the Sleep Architecture: Treatment in Allergic Children Decreases Intra-Sleep Arousal and Sleep Latency, Increases Sleep Efficacy, and Repairs the Distorted Sleep Architecture (WAC23-0131)
Accepted as a poster presentation, 2 December 2023, at the World Allergy Congress (WAC 2023), 1-3 December 2023, Bangkok, Thailand.
Path Analysis Reveals That Asthma Treatment and Eviction Diet Moderate the Mediation Effect of Apnoea-Hypopnea Index and Respiratory Effort on Body Mass Index
Poster presented at eSleep Europe 2023 (ESRS virtual sleep congress), 4-6 October 2023.
Amino Acid Formula Supplementation With Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid Leads to Resolution of Severe Sleep Disorders and Growth Gain in a Polyallergic Child
Poster presented at eSleep Europe 2023 (ESRS virtual sleep congress), 4-6 October 2023.
Malnutrition and Industrialized Products Increase Saturated Fat Consumption, Favoring Asthma, Sleep Disorders, Hyperactivity and Obesity Through an Increase in Leukotrienes and Leukotriene Receptors in Adenoids/Tonsils
Poster presented at eSleep Europe 2023 (ESRS virtual sleep congress), 4-6 October 2023.
Links Between Exercise-Induced Asthma and Allergies in Children: Should We Pay More Attention to Children Who Are Breathless on Exertion?
K. Kefala, C. Hebette, C. Castigliano, M. Fonteyn, J. Harvengt, M-Ch. Seghaye — ERS London International Congress, 7 September 2016.
High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) Long-Term Benefits: A Study Exploring Links Between Bronchiolitis and the Epigenetic Influence of Virus on Asthma Evolution
K. Kefala, M-Ch. Seghaye — ERS London International Congress, 6 September 2016.
High-Flow Heated-Humidified Nasal Cannula Oxygen at 2 L/kg/min Versus Low-Flow Oxygen in Infants With Bronchiolitis Requiring Oxygen: A Combined Prospective Randomized Controlled and Retrospective Study — Preliminary Results
Kalomoira Kefala, Kindja Nyamugabo, Nesrine Farhat, Aurélie Janssen, Marie-Christine Seghaye — CHU NDB Liège. ERS Congress, Amsterdam, September 2015.
Extreme Thrombocytosis in an Infant With Cow's Milk Protein Allergy
Kefala K., Cupers S., Teixeira J., Nyamugabo K., Seghaye M. — CHU Liège. EAACI Congress, Copenhagen, Denmark, 7-11 June 2014 (Thematic Poster Session, abstract 271).
Extreme Thrombocytosis in a Child With Cow's Milk Protein Allergy
Thirion S., Fernandez J., Hardy P., Kefala K., Cupers S., Nyamugabo K., Teixeira J., Seghaye M. — CHU Liège. Congress of the Belgian Pediatric Society, Bruges, 20-21 March 2014.
Decrease of Tuberculin Index in Children of Central Macedonia, Greece
K. Kefala-Agoropoulou, E. Chatzigianni, C. Antachopoulos, E. Iosifidis, E. Roilides — 31st European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) Congress, Milan, Italy, 28 May - 2 June 2013 (poster).
Late-Onset Neutropenia in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Neonates
Kefala-Agoropoulou Kalomoira, Evdoridou Ioanna, Papakyriakidou Panagiota, Tsepketzi Eleni, Agakidou Eleni, Drossou Vassiliki — 15th European Hematology Association Congress, Barcelona, 10-13 June 2010 (poster P265).
Thrombocytopenia and Platelet Indices in Septic Neonates
Kefala-Agoropoulou Kalomoira, Evdoridou Ioanna, Sarafidis Kosmas, Elissavet Diamanti, Soubassi Vassiliki, Drossou Vassiliki — 15th European Hematology Association Congress, Barcelona, 10-13 June 2010 (poster P196).
Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia
Kefala-Agoropoulou Kalomoira, Soubassi Vassiliki, Evdoridou Ioanna, Zoulas Dimitrios, Sarafidis Kosmas, Agakidou Eleni, Drossou Vassiliki — European Society of Paediatric Hematology and Immunology (ESPHI) Congress, 5-8 November 2009 (oral presentation).
A Case of Congenital Histiocytosis: Difficulties in Differential Diagnosis and Discrimination Between Different Types
Kalomoira Kefala-Agoropoulou, Maria Pantikidou, Olympia Lekidou, Elissavet Diamanti, Ioannis Tsiouris — ESPHI Congress, 5-8 November 2009 (poster).
Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (CA-MRSA) Severe Infection in Children: Case Report and Review of Published Cases
Kalomoira Kefala-Agoropoulou, Sofia Sarafidou, Konstantinos Kollios, Athanasia Anastasiou, Danai Sofianou, Emmanuel Roilides — International Congress of Paediatrics, Athens, 25-30 August 2007 (poster PPO586).
Simultaneous Kawasaki Disease in Siblings With Uncommon Complications: A Review of the Literature
Kalomoira Kefala-Agoropoulou, Agathi Karagiannidou, Andrianna Mpounta, Markella Lioliou, Emmanuel Roilides, Theodouli Papastavrou — International Congress of Paediatrics, Athens, 25-30 August 2007 (poster PP1074).
Non-Epidemic E. coli O157:H7-Associated Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome: Three Cases in One Year in Northern Greece
Konstantinos Kollios, Kefala-Agoropoulou Kalomoira, Antonios Platnaris, Emmanuel Roilides, Nikoleta Printza, Maria Badouraki, Theodouli Papastavrou, A. Kansouzidou-Kanakoudi — International Congress of Paediatrics, Athens, 25-30 August 2007 (poster PP0783).
Pearson's Syndrome in an Infant Heterozygous for the C282Y Allele of the HFE Gene
K. Kefala-Agoropoulou, E. Roilides, A. Lazaridou, E. Farmaki, Savopoulou, H. Tsantali, J.N. Tsiouris — 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. 11th European Hematology Association Congress, Amsterdam, 15-18 June 2006 (poster).
Cutaneous Zygomycosis in an Infant With Pearson's Syndrome
K. Kefala-Agoropoulou, E. Farmaki, A. Velegraki, J.N. Tsiouris, E. Roilides — 3rd Pediatric Department, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. European Congress of Infectious Diseases (ISHAM), Paris, 25-28 June 2006 (poster).
Communications presented at EAACI congresses are subsequently published in an electronic supplement of the journal Allergy, those presented at ERS congresses in an electronic supplement of the European Respiratory Journal (ERJ), and those presented at the World Sleep Congress in an electronic supplement of Sleep Medicine, where they are accessible to subscribers.