title: Requirement for additional treatment for dogs with atopic dermatitis undergoing allergen-specific immunotherapy.
abstract: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is one of the main treatments for atopic dermatitis in dogs, but it often requires additional treatments such as antibacterial and antifungal therapy for secondary bacterial and yeast infections, or antipruritic drugs to control the clinical signs or treat the adverse effects of the immunotherapy. Twenty-seven dogs enrolled in a study of ASIT were clinically assessed four times over a period of nine months; their requirement for treatment for secondary bacterial and yeast infections, for the administration of glucocorticoids as additional antipruritic therapy, and for the treatment of any adverse effects of the ASIT were evaluated. Twenty (74 per cent) of the dogs were treated for superficial bacterial pyoderma, 18 (66.6 per cent) required treatment for Malassezia species dermatitis on one or more occasions, eight (29.6 per cent) required treatment for otitis externa due to Malassezia species or bacteria, and eight required glucocorticoids to control their clinical signs. Five (18.5 per cent) of the dogs experienced adverse effects due to the ASIT and two required treatment with antihistamines (H1 receptor antagonists) in order to continue with the ASIT.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Division of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Thoday
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008290:Malassezia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008297:Male; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011711:Pyoderma / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D005938:Glucocorticoids