Title: Safety of Subcutaneous Specific Immunotherapy with Pollen Allergen Extracts for Respiratory Allergy
Abstract: <i>Background:</i> Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is a well-documented treatment for respiratory allergy. However, the major risk of SIT is the development of systemic anaphylactic reactions. <i>Objectives:</i> To evaluate the safety of SIT given by subcutaneous route for 3 years to patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR) with or without asthma. <i>Methods:</i> A prospective open-label study of immunotherapy (<i>Chenopodium album,</i> Bermuda grass, or both) in 181 consecutive patients with AR with or without asthma. After an initial dose-escalation phase, a maintenance dose of 0.5 ml of 100,000 PNU/ml was administered monthly for 3 years. The occurrence and severity of systemic reaction (SR) and local reaction was recorded and graded according to the WHO position paper. <i>Results:</i> Of 181 patients enrolled, 57 (31%) did not complete the study (53 due to poor compliance and 4 due to systemic side effects). All 4 patients who developed SR had asthma and all the SR occurred during the dose- escalation phase. Three patients had moderate SR (grade 2), while 1 patient had severe reaction (grade 3). Three of the SR occurred within the first 20 min after injection and 1 SR occurred 2 h after injection. None of the reactions were life threatening and were managed easily. Total rhinitis symptom score decreased from 11.8 at baseline to 7.46 at the end of treatment (p < 0.001). The size of the skin prick test reaction to the main sensitising allergen was reduced from 7.48 ± 2.26 mm at baseline to 5.60 ± 2.18 mm at the end of treatment, p < 001. <i>Conclusion:</i> If a strict protocol is used, SIT is safe in AR patients with or without mild asthma and may result in significant subjective and objective improvement.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 15
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