Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) with the New Polymerized Molecular Allergoid Alt a1: A Pilot Study in Children with Allergic Rhinitis Sensitized to Alternaria Alternata

Abstract

Background: We followed the effects of a new SCIT with a chemically polymerized allergen Alt a1, evaluating the trend of clinical and functional parameters in an observational-prospective study. Methods: 42 children with AR and intermittent asthma sensitized to A.A.: 17 patients started SCIT (Modigoid®), and 25 continued symptomatic therapy. At the initial visit (T0), all patients performed total IgE (tIgE) and specific IgE (sIgE) for Alt a1, nasal nitric oxide (nFeNo), nasal cytology, anterior active rhinomanometry (AAR) and spirometry. After 24 months (T1), they repeated the same procedures as in T0. Results: Patients treated with Modigoid presented a statistically significant (p < 0.001) reduction of nFeNO (T0:1651.06 ± 149.18; T1: 1394.12 ± 108.98), tIgE (T0: 311.48 ± 144.18; T1: 164.73 ± 50.69), sIgE for Alt a1 (T0: 28.59 ± 12.69; T1: 19.54 ± 7.37), an improvement of nasal airflow (T0: 71.62 ± 8.66; T1: 95.12 ± 5.91), nasal eosinophils (T0: 20.59 ± 2.35; T1: 14.88 ± 1.65) and FEV1 (T0: 95.58 ± 7.91; T1: 116.64 ± 5.94). Conclusions: The new SCIT for Alt a1 significantly improves AR symptoms from a subjective, objective point of view and laboratory and functional parameters.