[Effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy in patients with vernal keratoconjuctivitis]

Allergen immunotherapy has demonstrated usefulness in the management of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. However, little is known about its effectiveness in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), a disease mediated by IgE and lymphocytes, that can cause loss of visual acuity in a permanent way.

To describe safety and effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy in a group of patients with VKC.

From a sample of 575 patients sensitized to house dust mites, who received ultra-rush immunotherapy for asthma, allergic rhinoconjuctivitis or atopic dermatitis, 28 patients with VKC were selected and a retrospective analysis was performed with the evaluation of factors related to safety, pharmacological treatment and clinical response to immunotherapy..

Twenty eight patients with VKC who received allergen immunotherapy were studied. There were 21 men and 7 women, with an average age of 11 years. A total of 490 doses were administered (35 for build-up and 455 for maintenance) for different periods. The average number of doses per patient was 17. There were no local or systemic reactions. Seventy one percent of the patients presented a clear reduction in the use of medications, with an improvement in symptoms 89% and physical findings 68%.

Allergen immunotherapy seems to be a safe and efficient treatment for patients with VKC, and can contribute along with pharmacological management to the improvement of symptoms and reduction in the use of medications.