111 SPECIFIC IMMUNOTHERAPY (SI) IN THE TREATMENT OF “MINOR” ALLERGIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE (MARD) (wheezy bronchitis and/or chronic cough)

Abstract

We studied 224 children (ch) with high suspicion of MARD, aged 1 to 13 (x=4.6 yr) with more than 3 acute episodes during more than 6 months. We found an allergy family history in 71.9% and a high level of total IgE in 92%. We found positive results to house dust mites in 43.7% with prick test and in 51.8% with RAST. Both PT and/or RAST gave positive results in 68.7%. The follow-up study was conducted over 1 to 4 yr (x=2yr); 37 dropped out. We divided 150 proven atopic ch into 3 groups. Group A (69 ch) received a mast cell stabilizer drug (MCSD), group B (45 ch) SI with D.Pteron allergen plus MCSD, group C (36 ch) served as a control group. A marked improvement was seen in group B, whereas in group C only 1 of 6 ch showed any improvement. Group A showed intermediate results. During the study 50% of group C developed overt asthma against 30% in group A and only 4% (p <0.01) in group B. The results suggest that SI might have a preventive role in children with atopic MARD.