Long-Term Follow-Up of Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis to House Dust Mite

Kim, Tae Heon; Koo, Soo Kweon; Koh, Eui Kyung; Roh, Hwan Jung; Myung, Nam Suk; Lee, Hyoung Ju

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the long-term effect of immunotherapy on the allergic rhinitis patients to house dust mite (HDM) patients.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Sixty-five patients were treated for allergic rhinitis in the allergy clinic. Every patient underwent immunotherapy for 3 to 5 years and did not receive any additional treatments after the completion of the initial one. The survey on the symptom improvement and the patients' satisfaction was carried out 3 and 10 years after the immunotherapy treatment. The results of skin prick test for each individual were analyzed before, 3 and 10 years after the immunotherapy, respectively.
RESULTS
Overall symptom improvement surveyed 10 years after the immunotherapy decreased compared with that taken after 3 years of the treatment (p<0.05). In particular, symptom improvements on sneezing, itching sensation, and rhinorrhea was significantly decreased after 10 years (p<0.05). Patients' satisfaction level was 64.6% after 3 years and 49.2% after 10 years of the immunotherapy treatment. Skin prick test reactivity was significantly decreased after 3 years of the treatment compared to before the treatment. Although skin prick test reactivity measured in 10 years after immunotherapy increased compared with that measured in 3 years after, there was little statistical significance when compared with the reactivity before the treatment.
CONCLUSION
The immunotherapy has long term efficacy on allergic rhinitis to HDM. However, the efficacy decreased after the discontinuance of the immunotherapy treatment.