Abstract
Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy is an effective treatment and improves clinical symptoms of allergic asthma and rhinitis.
Aim: To evaluate the response of basophilic activation in patients receiving subcoutaneous(SCIT) and sublingual(SLIT) immunotherapy.
Methods: 28 patients (18M/10F; mean age 33.5; range 17- 46 years) with asthma and allergic rhinitis from polysensitisation to perennial allegens(Parietaria, grass pollen, Dermatophagoides) started treatment with allergen-specific immunotherapy(ITS). 23 patient received subcoutaneus therapy with modified allergens (allergoids)(19 for Parietaria, 4 for grass pollen)and 5 patients received SLIT.The SCIT was used before the pollination season.The BAT was performed at start-time, after 1 month, 6 months (during the pollen season) and after 12 months.
Results: At T0, the mean levels of basophils activation (CD63+)were elevated(84% ± 10.2 in 19 allergic patients to Parietaria pollens, 64% ± 14.4 in 4 allergic pts to grass pollen, 5 pts 72 % ± 8.9 for DP/DF). At T1, the mean percentage of basophilic degranulation decreased (32% ± 8.2 for Parietaria, p <0.01; 26 % ± 8.4 for grass pollen)in patients treated with SCIT while in 5 patients treated with SLIT was not registered significant response (68 % ± 8.9 p= 1,3).Levels of basophilic activation were stable at T6 during the pollen season. At T 12, the levels of CD63+ decreased significantly in all patients regardless of the type of treatment SCIT or SLIT(p<0.05)in comparison to start time of treatment.
Conclusion: The BAT has been validated in many IgE mediated disease and could have an important play to follow the favourable response to immunotherapy.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
