title: [Effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy in patients with vernal keratoconjuctivitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergen immunotherapy has demonstrated usefulness in the management of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. However, little is known about its effectiveness in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), a disease mediated by IgE and lymphocytes, that can cause loss of visual acuity in a permanent way.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe safety and effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy in a group of patients with VKC.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a sample of 575 patients sensitized to house dust mites, who received ultra-rush immunotherapy for asthma, allergic rhinoconjuctivitis or atopic dermatitis, 28 patients with VKC were selected and a retrospective analysis was performed with the evaluation of factors related to safety, pharmacological treatment and clinical response to immunotherapy..
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty eight patients with VKC who received allergen immunotherapy were studied. There were 21 men and 7 women, with an average age of 11 years. A total of 490 doses were administered (35 for build-up and 455 for maintenance) for different periods. The average number of doses per patient was 17. There were no local or systemic reactions. Seventy one percent of the patients presented a clear reduction in the use of medications, with an improvement in symptoms 89% and physical findings 68%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergen immunotherapy seems to be a safe and efficient treatment for patients with VKC, and can contribute along with pharmacological management to the improvement of symptoms and reduction in the use of medications.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de AlergologÌa ClÌnica y Experimental, MedellÌn, Colombia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Piedrahita
authors.forename: Jorge Mario
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Caraballo
authors.forename: Ruth Helena
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Girado
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cardona-Villa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult