The Effect of Specific Immunotherapy with House Dust Mite AIleI-gen in ChiIdhood Asthma

Lee, Hae Ran

Abstract

Immunotherapy is the on1y specific therapy for allergic diseases, although its use is still debate. The effect of immunotherapy(IT) was evaluated in 45 moderate to severe asthmatic children. At the beginning of IT, the mean duration of the disease was 3.7+/-2.3 years and the mean age of the patients was 7.8+/-3.O years old. The mean duration of IT was 302+/-163 months. The efficacy of IT was evaluated by comparing symptom sc0%, peak expiratory flow rate and laboratory tests such as total IgE, specific IgE, total eosinophil, and skin test reactivity before and after IT. Symptom score and peak expiratory flow rate were improved and skin test reactivity was reduced with IT. However, total IgE, specific IgE, tota1 blood eosinophil count did not show any remarkable changes. Ninety episodes of adverse reactions over 2012 injections(4598) were noticed. Among them, 57(28%) episodes were loca1 reactions(induration>2.5cm) and 33(1796) episodes were systemic reactions including acute mactions(0.896) such as wheezing, fainting, dyspnea or delayed reactions(0.996) such as aggrevation of asthma or rhinoconjuctival symptoms at night. In conclusion, immunotherapy with house dust mite allergen is effective in moderate to severe asthmatic children, however, carefu1 monitoring of adverse reactions is mandatory.