Abstract
Long-term benefit after allergen immunotherapy to HDM in elderly patients with allergic rhinitis
- Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Allergology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
Introduction:
Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is an effective therapy for allergic rhinitis and may have long-term benefits. However, these benefits have not been strictly defined for older people.
Aim:
The evaluation of the effectiveness of AIT in patients over 60 with allergic rhinitis and house dust mites (HDM) allergy over a period of 7 years was performed.
Material and methods:
Patients after three years of HDM-AIT were observed to assess the sustained clinical effect of treatment. The average adjusted symptom score (AAdSS) and sIgG4 were monitored for 7 years after sublingual (SLIT) and injection AIT (SCIT).
Results:
After 3 years of HDM-AIT, a significant clinical effect was observed in the group after SLIT and SCIT based on AAdSS compared to the baseline and the placebo group (p < 0.05). After 7 years of follow-up, there was a sustained trend of decrease in clinical symptoms in desensitized patients relative to placebo. Serum sIgG4 was constantly present in all desensitized patients.
Conclusions:
AIT may be beneficial for treating seniors with allergic rhinitis and allergies to house dust mites.
>Keywords
allergen immunotherapy, allergy, IgE, allergic rhinitis
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