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Long‐term effects of specific immunotherapy, administered during childhood, in asthmatic patients allergic to either house‐dust mite or to both house‐dust mite and grass pollen
Author(s) -
Cools M.,
Van Bever H.P.,
Weyler J.J.,
Stevens W.J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2000.00191.x
Subject(s) - medicine , house dust mite , asthma , allergy , mite , lung function , allergic asthma , dust mites , pediatrics , immunology , allergen , lung , botany , biology
In a retrospective study, asthmatic patients allergic to either house‐dust mite (HDM) ( Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ) ( n =34) or to both HDM and grass pollen (GP) ( n =14), and who were treated with specific immunotherapy (SIT) during childhood (mean duration of SIT: 61±9.70 months), were re‐evaluated in early adulthood after mean cessation of SIT for 9.3±2.76 years. The results were compared to those of a control group of asthmatic patients ( n =42) with comparable asthma features, who were treated with appropriate antiasthmatic drugs during childhood, but who never received SIT. Re‐evaluation was carried out with a standardized questionnaire, skin prick tests (SPT), and lung‐function assessments. At the time of re‐evaluation, the mean age in the SIT‐treated group was 23.1±3.50 years; in the control group, it was 22.7±3.40 years. At re‐evaluation, the risk of frequent asthmatic symptoms was three times higher in the control group than in the SIT‐treated group (prevalence ratio: 3.43; P =0.0006). The frequent use of antiasthmatic medication was also more pronounced in the control group, although the difference was not statistically significant ( P =0.38). Lung‐function parameters and results of SPT with HDM were comparable in both groups. It is concluded that SIT has long‐term effects on asthmatic symptoms in young adults.