Long-Term Immunologic Effects of Broad-Spectrum Aeroallergen Immunotherapy.

Autor: Limb, Susan L., Brown, Kathryn C., Wood, Robert A., Eggleston, Peyton A., Hamilton, Robert G., Adkinson, Jr., N. Franklin
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Zdroj: International Archives of Allergy & Immunology; 2006, Vol. 140 Issue 3, p245-251, 7p, 5 Charts
Abstrakt: Background: Limited data exist regarding extended, long-term immunologic effects of immunotherapy in polysensitized individuals. To study possible long-term effects, skin tests and specific IgE levels were obtained from subjects who had previously received broad-spectrum aeroallergen immunotherapy years before. Methods: Eighty-two subjects (78% male, mean age 23 years) previously enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of immunotherapy for treatment of childhood allergic asthma were reevaluated in adulthood (mean follow-up interval, 10.8 years) by puncture skin tests and CAP-RAST levels for major aeroallergens. All completed at least 18 months (median 27 months) of maintenance active treatment or placebo injections without subsequent immunotherapy. Results: At adult follow-up, 36% of all skin tests to treatment allergens among subjects who received immunotherapy (n = 41) had significantly reduced intensity versus 26% of skin tests among placebo recipients (n = 41; p = 0.03). No significant differences were noted for individual treatment allergens. No significant differences were observed in the long-term changes of serum-specific IgE antibody levels for all treatment allergens between immunotherapy treatment and placebo groups (p = 0.43). The treatment and placebo groups had a similar acquisition of new skin test sensitivities from time of randomization in the original childhood trial to debriefing (15 vs. 20%; p = 0.28) and to adult follow-up (30 vs. 31%; p = 0.75). Conclusions: Immunotherapy suppresses skin test sensitivity 8–16 years after discontinuation of treatment, but long-term effects on specific IgE levels in serum are not observed. Broad-spectrum immunotherapy does not appear to affect the acquisition of new inhalant sensitivities. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index