title: Changes in serum specific IgG4 and IgG4/ IgE ratio in mite-sensitized Taiwanese children with allergic rhinitis receiving short-term sublingual-swallow immunotherapy: a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and immunologic effects of sublingual-swallow immunotherapy (SLIT). A six-month, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 59 patients aged 6 to 18 years with allergic rhinitis who were sensitized to mites only. Patients were randomly assigned to placebo or SLIT with a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.)/D. farinae (D.f) 50/50 extract. Nasal symptom scores and use of medications were recorded. Skin sensitivity, mite-specific IgE, IgG4, and IgG4/IgE were evaluated before and after treatment. The skin sensitivity, total nasal symptom scores and medication consumption did not differ significantly after treatment. Specific IgG4 (both p <0.001) and IgG4/IgE to D.p. and D.f (p = 0.010, p = 0.001, respectively) increased significantly in the treatment group. Specific IgE increased significantly in both placebo and SLIT groups after treatment but did not differ between the two groups. The medication was well tolerated. SLIT did not significantly improve clinical manifestations of allergic rhinitis when used for 6 months. We demonstrated SLIT did significantly increase specific IgG4 and IgG4/IgE compared to treatment with placebo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Hann
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Lin-Shien
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Bao-Ren
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Nong
authors.forename: Jyh-Der
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Shyh-Dar
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shyur
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology*; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E