Effects of one‐year hyposensitization in allergic rhinitis

Abstract

In an open study, 21 patients suffering from chronic non-seasonal rhinitis and allergic to house mites (HDM) have been treated for 1 year with either a new extract (Pharmalagen; n = 10) or an allergoid, pyridine denatured, extract (Alavac; n = 11), both precipitated with AlOH3 (depot). The following investigations were performed before and after therapy: clinical scoring (for 4 weeks), quantified skin prick tests (SPT) and nasal provocation tests (NPT) with HDM, and determination in serum of HDM-specific IgE and IgG. Both groups were compared with six patients who remained untreated and underwent the same investigations. Hyposensitization with either extract induced an improvement in clinical scores (P less than 0.05), a decrease in SPT reactivity (Pharmalgen: P less than 0.001; Alavac: P less than 0.01), a marked increase in the nasal tolerance to HDM (P less than 0.001) and in HDM-specific IgG (P less than 0.001). In the group of untreated patients, all these parameters remained unchanged. Compared with the Alavac extract, the Pharmalgen extract was more active in decreasing SPT reactions (P less than 0.05) and inducing a HDM-specific IgG rise (P less than 0.05). Although both extracts induced some untoward allergic reactions, no adrenaline was used at any time during the study. These data suggest that hyposensitization with depot extracts of HDM can be considered a safe and active adjunct to the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Effects of immunotherapy with a purified standardized allergen preparation of Dermatophagoides farinae in adults with perennial allergic rhinoconjunctivitis

“…We confirm earlier findings by Pecoud et al (25) and McHugh et al (17). Both these studies used Der p extracts.…”

“…Recently, two other studies have compared the effect of different extracts. Pecoud et al (25) studied two different extracts of Der p, Pharmalgen® and Alvac®. Both induced an improvement in clinical scores, a decrease in skin reactivity, an increase in mite-specific IgG, and a marked increase in nasal tolerance.…”

The draft genome, transcriptome, and microbiome of Dermatophagoides farinae reveal a broad spectrum of dust mite allergens

“…Allergen-specific immunotherapy represents the only currently available therapy that has long-lasting effects on allergic diseases. 10 HDM allergen vaccines are generally made from extracts of purified mite bodies, which include components of microbes that inhabit mites. 11,12 It is difficult to ensure the lot-lot consistency of the vaccine because of its complex components.…”

Hypoallergenic Der p 1/Der p 2 combination vaccines for immunotherapy of house dust mite allergy

“…1-5 However, SIT can induce side effects, ranging from mild and local to severe and life-threatening symptoms, such as anaphylactic shock. 6,7 Severe side effects are frequently observed in patients with house dust mite (HDM) allergy, 8 who constitute more than 50% of allergic patients and often have severe forms of respiratory allergy, such as asthma. The continuous exposure to HDM allergens further complicates the treatment of patients with HDM allergy.…”