The results of specific immunotherapy for house dust mites in patients with allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated three-year clinical and laboratory results of specific immunotherapy (SIT) for allergenic house dust mite species, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 26 patients (6 males, 20 females; mean age 28 years; range 17-56 years) who had allergic rhinitis and were found to be sensitive to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae. Due to unresponsiveness to other treatment modalities, the patients received subcutaneous SIT for three years. Symptoms (nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea, itching, sneezing, headache, eye symptoms, and smelling) were graded before and at the end of SIT, and blood eosinophilia, total IgE and specific IgE levels were determined. RESULTS: At the end of three years, the number of patients that showed strong positivity to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae decreased from 26 (100%) to 3 (11.5%) (p=0.0001) and from 18 (69.3%) to 4 (15.4%) (p<0.005), respectively. There were significant decreases in blood eosinophilia, total IgE and specific IgE levels, and in the severity of all symptoms related to the nose, head, and eye. CONCLUSION: Specific immunotherapy reduces symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis. It is an effective treatment method for allergic rhinitis if performed by trained physicians in carefully selected patients.