title: Sublingual allergen immunotherapy in HIV-positive patients.
abstract: HIV infection is a relative contraindication for allergic immunotherapy (AIT). In the last decade, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the immune function and life expectancy in HIV-infected patients whose respiratory allergic incidence is similar to the general population. We evaluated the safety and clinical effectiveness of sublingual immunotherapy in a group of grass pollen-allergic HAART-treated HIV-positive patients. Thirteen patients received sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet (Oralair, Stallergenes©) and symptomatic therapy and were compared with nine patients receiving symptomatic therapy alone. Clinical benefits were evaluated by the analysis of total combined score (TCS), sum of symptom-medication score, and a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire. HIV viral load and peripheral TCD4 lymphocytes were analyzed at the beginning and at the end of the study. Clinical efficacy data showed a significant improvement in SLIT-treated patients compared to controls (TCS: P = 0.0001; QoL: P = 0.03). We did not observe any significant alteration of TCD4 cell counts and viral load (VL) in both groups. Our preliminary data showed that SLIT therapy in viro-immunological controlled HAART treated HIV positive patients was efficacious, safe and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit and 1st Division of Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iemoli
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit and 1st Division of Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgonovo
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit and 1st Division of Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fusi
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit and 1st Division of Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magni
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit and 1st Division of Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit and 1st Division of Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzardini
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit and 1st Division of Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piconi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D063729:Sublingual Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: HIV infection; TCD4; grass pollen; sublingual immunotherapy; viral load