Prospective study on immunologic changes induced by two different Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extracts prepared from whole mite culture and mite bodies

Abstract

Twenty-four children with bronchial asthma and hypersensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus by skin titration, specific serum IgE, leukocyte histamine release, and bronchial challenge test were selected for immunotherapy with two partially purified mite extracts. On the basis of age and allergen-specific IgE responses, patients were randomly divided for treatment with either an extract prepared from whole mite culture (WMC) or from purified mite bodies (MB). The content of major allergens was quantified for both extracts. The allergen dose administered during immunotherapy was increased up to the highest tolerated dose. The mean cumulative dose of Der p I was 98.9 μg for the WMC-treatment group and 76.7 μg for the MB-treatment group. Small, but statistically significant, decreases in RAST and crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis responses to major allergens were recorded after 2 years of treatment. A small increase in specific IgG1 and a large persistent increase in specific IgG4 was recorded in both groups. There was a significant decrease in allergen-specific bronchial sensitivity, skin reactivity, and leukocyte sensitivity in both treatment groups. Between both groups, changes in the different parameters were not significantly different. Our data indicate that immunotherapy with both partially purified house dust mite extracts, WMC, and MB leads to a decrease in allergen-specific IgE responses and induce a response in specific IgG4. Both extracts are comparable in modulating leukocyte and skin sensitivity, as well as bronchial reactivity to mite allergens.