The Effect of Viral Infections and Allergic Inflammation in Asthmatic Patients on Immunotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of allergic asthma are increasing, and the clinical outcome and risk factors of immunotherapy in the treatment of allergy have not been well established. Especially, the impact of viral infection on cytokines in allergic inflammation has yet to be established. This study aimed to determine serum IL-3, IL-11 and IgE levels and blood eosinophil and neutrophil counts during a one-year follow up in patients with allergic asthma on immunotherapy and those on anti-asthmatic drugs only, in the presence of influenza-like illness. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with allergic asthma were included in the prospective and comparative clinical study with randomization into two treatment groups. Each patient in the immunotherapy group was treated with subcutaneous specific immunotherapy. After patient recruitment, the serum IL-3, IL-11 and IgE levels and blood eosinophil and neutrophil counts and the frequency of influenza-like symptoms were recorded during a one-year follow up. Results: A large percentage of patients in the control group had flu symptoms compared to those in the immunotherapy group. The median serum IL-3 and the IL-11 levels were significantly higher in the immunotherapy group of patients compared to the control group. The median serum IgE level was significantly higher in the immunotherapy group of patients compared to the control group during second quarter of follow-up. Conclusion: The presence of influenza-like symptoms during allergen specific immunotherapy did not significantly change IL-3, IL-11 levels, neutrophil and eosinophil counts.

COVID‐19 pandemic and allergen immunotherapy—an EAACI survey

“…Besides SLIT in these patients demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated. In another prospective study, the effect of an influenza virus infection on standard immunological parameters during one year course of SCIT in asthmatic patients was investigated 58 . The authors found that the presence of influenza‐like symptoms during SCIT had not affected standard biochemical and hematological parameters (eg, eosinophil and neutrophil counts, total IgE).…”

Handling of allergen immunotherapy in the COVID‐19 pandemic: An ARIA‐EAACI statement

“…In a prospective and comparative clinical study, Ahmetaji et al found no significant difference in the efficacy or in the improvement of symptoms of allergic asthma patients under subcutaneous allergen‐specific immunotherapy with or without symptomatic influenza, nor in the standard chemical and hematology parameters and different cytokines during a one‐year follow‐up 32 . These preliminary data suggest that SCIT in influenza‐infected patients was safe and well‐tolerated.…”

Allergen immunotherapy in the current COVID-19 pandemic: A position paper of AeDA, ARIA, EAACI, DGAKI and GPA

“…In their prospective and comparative clinical study, Ahmetaji et al [18] found no significant difference in effectiveness or symptom improvement in patients with allergic asthma using SCIT with or without influenza-like viral infections. The laboratory chemical and hematological standard parameters and various cytokines during treatment and 1 year follow-up were also not different [18]. These preliminary data suggest that SCIT is safe and well-tolerated in patients with influenza virus infection.…”