Retrospective survey of allergen immunotherapy in canine atopy

Abstract

The clinical records of 277 cases of canine atopy treated with specific allergen immunotherapy were reviewed. A good response was defined as control with immunotherapy either alone or with topical agents, a partial response as control with immunotherapy and other systemic agents, and a poor response as no perceived benefit and the immunotherapy discontinued. The mean follow-up period was 29.2 months (range 10 to 85 months). Ninety-one cases (33 per cent) were lost to follow-up or failed to comply with the therapeutic protocol. Of the remaining 186 cases, 40 (21.5 per cent) had a good response to immunotherapy, 74 (39.8 per cent) had a partial response, and 72 (38.7 per cent) had a poor response. Immunotherapy was therefore of long-term benefit in 114 dogs (61.3 per cent). No significant differences in response rates were associated with the breed or sex of the dog, or the age of onset of the disease, or with the type or number of allergens included in a vaccine. Dogs which had clinical signs for more than 61 months before immunotherapy had a significantly poorer response rate (23.5 per cent, P < 0.05). In-house cases had a significantly better response rate (95.2 per cent, P < 0.05) than externally managed cases.

Results of allergen‐specific immunotherapy in 117 dogs with atopic dermatitis

“…The number of allergens included in the extract seemed to have no significant influence on the therapeutic outcome; because the number of allergens was equivalent to a larger number of PNU, this result conflicts with the results of Nesbitt and others (1984). However, more recent studies have had similar results to the results reported here (Walton Angarano and Macdonald 1992, Scott and others 1993, Nuttall 1998.…”

“…In a British study, there was no difference between the responses to allergen extracts containing either dust mite antigens or pollen antigens (Nuttall 1998). In the present study there were also no significant differences between the results of immunotherapy with different types of antigen.…”

“…It is most commonly treated with glucocorticoids, antihistamines and fatty acid supplementation (Olivry and Mueller 2003), but the only specific treatment is allergenspecific immunotherapy (Griffin and Hillier 2001). In recent years several studies have described the efficacy of this treatment (Gosselin and others 1983, Willemse and others 1984, Walton Angarano and Macdonald 1992, Scott and others 1993, Mueller and Bettenay 1996, Nuttall 1998, Zur and others 2002, which is not associated with the adverse effects commonly caused by the administration of glucocorticoids and is more effective than antihistamines, fatty acids or shampoo therapy (Paterson 1994, Scott and others 2001, Mueller and others 2004. In human medicine the success rate of allergen-specific immunotherapy is influenced by factors such as the age of the patient and how long the patient has suffered the disease before the treatment was applied (Des Roches andothers 1996, Durham andothers 1999).…”

The study of canine atopic dermatitis involving the isolation of dogs

“…Interestingly, the percentage of dogs that showed improvement in isolation (63%) was very similar to the success rate of immunotherapy for AD that has been reported previously (Nesbitt 1978, Willemse et al 1984, Nuttall et al 1998, Saevik et al 2002, Zur et al 2002.…”

Dermatite atopique canine : actualités et aspects de pathologie comparée

“…Il obtenait luimême à cette époque 67 % de résultats identiques dans un petit lot de 18 chiens. On considère actuellement que 50 à 80 % des animaux répondent à l'immunothérapie (GRIF-FIN et HILLIER, 2001) comme cela est suggéré par des études ouvertes publiées où la désensibilisation est basée sur des résultats d'intradermoréactions (NESBITT, 1978 ;ROSSER, 1998 ;MUELLER et BETTENAY, 1996 ;NUTTAL et al, 1998 ;KLEINBECK et al, 1998 ;PARK et al, 2000 ;ZUR G. et al, 2002) ou d'ELISA (SOUSA et NORTON, 1990 ;SCHWARTZ-MAN et MATHIS, 1997 ;PARK et al, 2000 ;ZUR et al, 2002) ;. SCOTT obtint même en 1981 100 % de satisfaction sur la base de tests cutanés.…”