[The efficacy of long-term specific immunotherapy for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in patients with atopic...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hyposensitization therapy with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus vaccine in patients with moderate and severe atopic dermatitis and sensitization to house mite dust. We studied 32 patients who showed strongly positive Skin Prick Test and high levels of circulating specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. All the patients were treated with sodium alginated dialyzed allergenic extract (Bayropharm, Milan), realized by increasing progressively subcutaneous injections for three years. Erythema and lichenification were monitored. The Skin Prick Test positivity and serum level of specific and total IgE were measured before and after the treatment. We divided our subjects in two groups on the basis of presence or absence of respiratory symptoms such as rhinitis and asthma. All the patients showed substantial improvement of the cutaneous lesions and respiratory symptoms. Analysis of specific circulating IgE and Skin Prick Test showed significant tendency to normalization. The total IgE serum level showed no significant difference. Our results showed a definite benefit from a DPT hyposensitization regime in patients with atopic dermatitis and sensibilization to house mite dust.