Clinical and immunological effect of subcutaneous immunotherapy in allergic asthma

Abstract

BackgroundAllergen immunotherapy is a potentially curative treatment approach in allergic diseases, subcutaneous immunotherapy is therapeutic option in treatment of allergic asthma. Aim of the studyIn the present study, subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) using multiple allergen was administered to allergic asthmatic patients without allergic rhinitis or mixed allergy aiming to evaluate its efficacy, safety and evaluate the changes in the immune response. Patients and methodsThe study included 56 patients with allergic asthma alone, all patients received SCIT according to the results of skin prick test over a period of 1year, initial clinical evaluation including the presence of exacerbation and need of inhalers treatment, pulmonary function tests were performed also total immunoglobulin E(IgE), immunoglobulin A(IgA) and leukotriene C4(LTC4) were measured and repeated after 1year of initiation of the course of SCIT. ResultsThere were highly significant clinical improvement as regard exacerbation presence, need for inhalers and improvement of the forced expiratory volume in the first second FEV1 also there were highly significant decrease in total IgE, LTC4 and highly significant increase of IgA, after one year of SCIT. ConclusionSCIT is a safe treatment strategy that significantly reduce exacerbation and medication requirement in allergic asthma without mixed allergy also improve immunological response.