PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Nitesh Gupta
AU  - Raj Kumar
AU  - Juhi Mittal
TI  - Subcutaneous allergen specific immunotherapy and immunological response in patients with bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in India
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3474
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3474.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3474.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - Background: Subcutaneous allergen specific immunotherapy (SCIT) in bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR) acts by influencing basic immunological mechanisms, driven by production of cytokines like IL-5 among others.Aim and Objective: The aim is to evaluate the response of immunotherapy against commonly implicated aero-allergns in India as measured by levels of inflammatory markers (IL-5, IL-6).Method: 29 patients (18-48 yrs; 16 males) diagnosed with BA and AR underwent skin prick test for evaluation of allergic sensitivity. The patients were classified and treated as per GINA and ARIA guidelines and immunotherapy was initiated as per the standard Indian guidelines. Symptom score, medication requirement, Il-5 and Il-6 levels were obtained at 0, 3 and 6 months. Statistical analysis was done using Friedman test.Results: The various antigens positive on SPT were mosquito, housefly, female cockroach, male cockroach, moth, rice weevil, house dust mite, cassia and prosis. SCIT was initiated against single antigen in 3 cases, two antigens in 6 cases, three antigens in 5 cases, four antigens in 8 cases and maximum of five antigens in 7 cases. The inflammatory markers, IL-5 and IL-6, for 0, 3 and 6 months were compared and it was observed that as the duration of treatment increases the levels significantly decreases (p=0.003). Also, significant reduction in symptoms and medication requirement was observed. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean response of SCIT against ≤2 or >2 antigens.Conclusion: Mono and poly antigen SCIT is effective in suppressing inflammatory response in Indian patients.