title: Ultrarush schedule of subcutaneous immunotherapy with modified allergen extracts is safe in paediatric age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy up dosing with allergenic extracts has been shown to be associated with frequent adverse reactions. In recent studies it has been demonstrated that using modified extracts, namely allergoids, it is a safe and effective procedure particularly on accelerated schedules. However data assessing its safety in paediatric age is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety profile in paediatric population of using modified allergen extracts, in an ultrarush schedule, to reach the maintenance dose in the first day.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included children undergoing treatment with subcutaneous immunotherapy during a five-year period, using modified aeroallergen extracts, depigmented, polymerized with glutaraldehyde and adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide using an ultrarush induction phase. The type of adverse reactions during the ultrarush protocol was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 100 paediatric patients (57 males) with a mean age of 11.6 years (5 to 18 years; standard deviation, 3.3), all with moderate to severe persistent rhinitis, with or without allergic conjunctivitis, asthma and atopic eczema, sensitized to mites and/or pollens. All reached the maintenance dose of 0.5 mL in the first day, except 1 child. During the ultrarush protocol the total number of injections was 199. There were 21 local adverse reactions in 11 patients, 11 immediate and 10 delayed; from those, had clinical relevance 1 immediate and 4 delayed. Systemic reactions were recorded in 2 cases, both immediate and mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultrarush protocol, without premedication, was a safe alternative to be used in paediatric age during the induction phase of subcutaneous immunotherapy using allergoid depigmented extracts.
authors: Allergy Center, CUF Descobertas Hospital, 1998-018 Lisbon, Portugal.; CINTESIS, Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Mário
authors: M
authors: Morais-Almeida
authors: Allergy Center, CUF Descobertas Hospital, 1998-018 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Arêde
authors: Allergy Center, CUF Descobertas Hospital, 1998-018 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Graça
authors: G
authors: Sampaio
authors: Allergy Center, CUF Descobertas Hospital, 1998-018 Lisbon, Portugal.; CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology Department, NOVA Medical School, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Luis Miguel
authors: LM
authors: Borrego
keywords: Adverse Events; Allergens; Allergoids; Immunotherapy; Pediatrics; Safety