INVESTIGATION OF SUBCUTANEOUS IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR ALLERGIC RHINITIS IN OUR HOSPITAL FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS

Abstract

Recently, subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) has not been performed very much in our country. We investigated SCIT for allergic rhinitis in our hospital for the past 17 years. Subjects were 188 cases who started SCIT by rush method under hospitalization. We investigated the patient background, laboratory findings, side reactions from their medical records and carried out questionnaire survey about effects and satisfaction to patients and their guardians. The median age at start was 10 years 4 months. Cedar pollen was the most common allergen used in treatment followed by mite, and two or more allergens were used in 85% patients. Five percent of patients dropped out. Medication score decreased significantly after SCIT, and 45% had become free from medication. Systemic adverse reaction was observed in 117 of the 5,954 injections (2%) during the rapid phase and in 10 of the 5,567 injections (0.2%) during the maintenance phase, and all episodes disappeared immediately. Symptom score significantly decreased after SCIT, the effects being similar even after 3 years of cessation of SCIT. SCIT was effective for allergic rhinitis in childhood. The effect lasted after treatment cessation for a long term and the patient satisfaction was very high. There are some advantages of SCIT that sublingual immunotherapy does not have. SCIT should be considered as a choice for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in childhood.