EFFICACY OF HOUSE DUST MITE IMMUNOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC AND CONTACT DERMATITIS OVERLAP SYNDROME

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Allergen-specific immunotherapy may modify chronic inflammation in patients with allergic overlap syndrome, including atopic dermatitis and contact allergy. <h3>Methods</h3> A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. 81 patients aged 18 to 60 years with atopic and contact dermatitis were included. The main criterion for inclusion in the studies was confirmation of sensitization to house dust mites and contact allergy. Patients with a SCORAD index greater than/equal to 15 points were included. The primary endpoint of efficacy was a significant reduction in the SCORAD index between the active and placebo groups by more than 12 points after 6 months of treatment. Contact allergy was confirmed by skin patch tests. Specific IgE to Der p1 and Der p 2 were determined by ELISA. <h3>Results</h3> 71 patients completed the study, with 36 patients in the active group and 35 in the placebo group. Patients in both groups received standard treatment. Patients in the active group received subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy with house dust mite extracts. In the active group, a decrease in the SCORAD index by 12 points was recorded in 30 of 36 patients, which significantly differed (chi squared 5.71, p<0.017) from the placebo group, where the decrease in the index occurred in 19 of 35 patients. The number of exacerbations of contact allergy in the active group was significantly less (p<0.05) compared with the placebo group. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This pilot study confirmed that allergen-specific immunotherapy may be effective in the overlap syndrome of atopic and contact dermatitis.