The Safety of Immunotherapy in Patients with Allergic Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis

• Published in: European journal of inflammation Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 29 - 32
• Main Authors: Ilonidis, G., Anogianakis, G., Theofilogiannakos, E. K., Anogeianaki, A., Giannakoylas, C., Trakatelli, M., Economidis, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 2005; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Asthma; Edema; Histamine; Immunotherapy; Urticaria; allergic rhinitis; allergic asthma; immunotherapy; systemic reactions; allergens
• ISSN: 2058-7392; 1721-727X; 2058-7392
• DOI: 10.1177/1721727X0500300106

We studied systemic reactions associated with immunotherapy in a group of 50 patients with mean age 31.4 years. The group consisted of 36 women and 14 men who followed a three-year immunotherapy treatment with pollen and mite allergen extracts (HAL-Holland Corporation). A total number of 2550 injections were administered. Eight patients developed systemic reactions; 6 had allergic rhinitis and 2 allergic asthma. None developed severe anaphylaxis. Seven of the systemic reactions occurred immediately after injection while one was a late reaction manifested as generalized urticaria, local edema and rubor at the site of the injection. From the 7 patients who showed an immediate reaction, 5 developed generalized urticaria with local edema and rubor at the site of the injection, while 2 presented with bronchial spasm. We did not observe any reaction when the quantity of the extract injection was reduced by 50%. Our study points out that, in the vast majority of cases, immunotherapy is free of severe systemic reactions. Those that occur are associated with the injection of high-density extracts and none of them is severe.