Effect of subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy on the natural course of allergic diseases: a retrospective cohort study

In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of subcutaneous specific immunotherapy (SIT) on decreasing allergic airway symptoms in a pediatric cohort with allergen sensitization.Method: We retrospectively enrolled 325 subjects (62.8% Male) aged 5 to 18 years with asthma or allergic rhinitis (AR) sensitized to inhalant allergens. Medical records were reviewed to record diagnosis and skin prick test (SPT) results as well as SIT history. In both groups, annual distribution and severity of AR, number of emergency visits, days of hospitalizations, systemic steroid use and number of attacks per year were recorded in the first and third years of follow up.Results: AR and asthma were diagnosed in 51% and 30% respectively; 4.6% had both. Most common inhalant allergen sensitized was pollens (48.6%). 44% received subcutaneous SIT. Age at the time of SPT was significantly higher in SIT group (9.9±3.2 and 8.7±3.8 respectively, p=0.03). In SIT group, 34.8% of the AR patients were persistent in first year while this decreased to 3.9% in the third year (p=0.001). There was no change in the frequency of persistence among the AR subjects who did not receive SIT (p=0.34). Among the subjects with asthma who received SIT, number of exacerbations and days of salbutamol use per year decreased significantly in the third year of follow up compared to the first. (2.8±2.2 and 1.3±2.3, p=0.033; 14.0±5.3 and 5.3±5.9, p=<0.001 respectively). None of the ast...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Paediatric asthma and allergy Source Type: research