Allergen-specific immunotherapy with storage mites

Abstract

As a result of the German Therapy Allergen Ordinance and justified demands for large, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on allergen-specific immunotherapy, rare therapy allergens as immunotherapeutic agents have moved out of the scientific and allergological spotlight. Allergen-specific immunotherapy with house dust mite extracts is well established, but beside house dust mites, storage mites may cause similar allergic symptoms that also require a causal treatment. Especially in Asia storage mites are the most important inhalative allergens, but they are important allergens as well for some patients in Germany. The cross-reactivity between house dust mites and storage mites but also cross-reactivity between different kinds of storage mites is low. Therefore, storage mites should be included in diagnostic procedures to prevent misdiagnosis in patients suffering from perennial rhinitis. Thus, manufacturer should guarantee the availability of storage mite extracts for diagnostics and allergen-specific immunotherapy. Clinical trials documenting the efficacy of these extracts are necessary.