The relationship between autoimmunity and specific immunotherapy for allergic diseases

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Allergology
• Autoimmunity

Background:

• Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is a treatment for allergic diseases.
• Long-term safety data regarding autoimmune manifestations post-SIT are crucial.
• Observational studies are needed to assess the risk of autoimmune disease and autoantibodies after SIT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term safety of SIT regarding autoimmune disease and autoantibody development.
• To assess autoimmune disease incidence and autoantibody presence 20 years after SIT completion.
• To compare autoimmune disease prevalence in SIT-treated patients versus control groups.

Main Methods:

• A 20-year observational study involving 1,888 patients who completed SIT.
• Monitoring for new autoimmune diseases and autoantibodies in serum.
• Comparison with control groups: allergic patients without SIT and non-allergic subjects.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in autoimmune disease prevalence between allergic patients with or without SIT.
• Significantly higher prevalence of 4 autoimmune diseases in non-allergic patients compared to controls.
• Significantly higher incidence of 8 autoantibodies in non-allergic patients versus controls.
• Hashimoto disease was the most common autoimmune disease observed.

Conclusions:

• Specific immunotherapy (SIT) does not increase the long-term risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
• The incidence of autoimmune disease post-SIT is lower than in non-allergic individuals.
• SIT demonstrates long-term safety concerning autoimmune manifestations.