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Safety of specific immunotherapy: a retrospective study
A Luigi1, G Senna, P Mezzelani
1Allergy Department of Verona General Hospital, Italy.
Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology
|September 1, 1994
Summary
Specific immunotherapy is a safe treatment for allergic asthma and rhinitis, with a low rate of mild systemic reactions and no anaphylaxis cases. This allergy treatment can be considered first-line therapy when administered in a specialized setting.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Specific immunotherapy (SI) is a treatment for allergic diseases.
- Assessing the safety of SI is crucial for its clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review a large experience of specific immunotherapy to assess its safety.
- To evaluate the incidence and types of systemic reactions in patients with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 300,086 injections administered to 6,319 patients.
- Data collected from 1968 through September 30, 1993.
- Analysis of reported systemic reactions, including urticaria, asthmatic attacks, and rhinitis.
Main Results:
- A total of 184 systemic reactions (0.061%) were reported in 134 subjects (2.1%).
- Common reactions included urticaria (59.3%), mild asthmatic attacks (23.9%), and spasmodic rhinitis (7.1%).
- No cases of anaphylaxis were reported during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Specific immunotherapy demonstrates a high safety profile for treating allergic asthma and rhinitis.
- The low incidence of severe reactions supports its use.
- SI should be considered a first-line therapy when administered in a specialized medical setting.