title: Specific immunotherapy in pollinosis: II. Forecasting changes in certain cytoimmunological indicators after four years of immunotherapy in pollinosis.
abstract: The determination of an appropriate period of duration for specific immunotherapy presents an important problem in the treatment of allergic diseases. The aim of this paper was to conduct a prognostic study of certain immunological indicators after 4 years of desensitization, and to determine which of the tested indicators are characteristic for an evaluation of the clinical condition. Individuals with pollinosis were tested after the first, second, third and fourth year of desensitization using the pollen allergen. The B and T-lymphocyte counts, the levels of immunoglobulins A, M, G, and total and specific E, and the volume of basal, total and specifically released histamine were all measured. Furthermore, the clinical condition of the patient was defined using a score method (0-3 points), taking into account the results of testing and the basic symptoms of the disease. Following this, a prediction of results after the fifth year of desensitization was made, using Brown's method of exponential smoothing. The majority of the data obtained from the forecasting study indicate that in the subsequent fifth year of desensitization, the indicators studied should undergo further changes in values, offering a strong argument for the necessity of extending the period of immunotherapy in pollinosis beyond three years. In the results of the regression function estimates it was determined that, among the indicators studied, those which are helpful in monitoring treatment are: T-RFC, T-FcG-BG, T-FcM-EN and B-EAC lymphocyte counts, levels of IgA, IgM and specific IgE, and the percentage of specifically released histamine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Lódź, Poland. aziel@psk2.em.Lódź.pL
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zieliński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007136:Immunoglobulins