Specific immunotherapy is effective in the prevention of new sensitivities.
BACKGROUND
Allergen specific immunotherapy is the only specific and curative approach in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. The safety and clinical efficacy of this treatment are well documented but data on the prevention of new sensitizations remain scarce.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the efficacy of specific immunotherapy in allergic respiratory diseases in childhood and to determine whether this treatment prevents the development of new sensitizations in children sensitized to house dust mite or pollen species.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients received specific immunotherapy (43 sensitive to house dust mite and 13 sensitive to pollen). Fifty-one patients not receiving immunotherapy but treated with pharmacotherapy were enrolled in the control group. The patients were followed-up for at least 4 years and treatment efficacy and the development of new sensitizations were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The number of patients with symptoms was significantly decreased in both groups at the end of the treatment period. No new sensitizations were found in 35 of the 43 (81.39 %) patients in the house dust mite immunotherapy group and in 10 of 13 (76.92 %) patients in the pollen immunotherapy group. In contrast, 20 of 51 (39.21 %) patients in the control group showed new sensitizations. The difference between the house dust mite and pollen immunotherapy groups and the control group in this parameter was statistically significant (p = 0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that administration of specific immunotherapy in allergic patients significantly reduced symptoms and the development of new sensitivities.
Reha
C M
CM
Department of Allergy, Ministry of Health, Ankara Diskapi Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Ebru
A
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D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010367:Arachis / Q000009:adverse effects; D002415:Cats; D002645:Chickens; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003058:Cockroaches; D031211:Corylus / Q000009:adverse effects; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004285:Dogs; D004529:Egg White / Q000009:adverse effects; D005241:Feathers; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D011058:Pollen; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013147:Spirometry
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides