The role of allergen immunotherapy in the respiratory complications of quadriplegia.
Patients with traumatic quadriplegia have frequent respiratory complications. These complications may be exacerbated by the presence of common and previously well-tolerated allergic disease. Quadriplegic patients are limited in their ability to cope with upper and lower respiratory allergies by a reduced vital capacity and impairment of maneuvers needed to keep the upper and lower respiratory tracts clear. This report describes two patients with traumatic quadriplegia who were treated with allergen immunotherapy. After immunotherapy, both patients had negligible long-term postinjury respiratory complications and an improved quality of life. Allergen immunotherapy should be considered early in the management of allergic patients with traumatic quadriplegia.
Cohn
J R
JR
Department of Internal Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Ditunno
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
D000485:Allergens