Safety comparison of omalizumab and glucocorticoid in rush allergen immunotherapy

Objective:To observe the safety of omalizumab and glucocorticoid in the dose-increasing phase of rush allergen immunotherapy（RIT）. Method:The clinical data of 88 patients with allergic rhinitis treated with RIT were retrospectively studied, including gender, age, pre-treatment total VAS score, blood EOS%, serum total IgE, local and systemic adverse reactions. Of all patients, fifty-seven were treated with omalizumab combined with RIT（experimental group） and thirty-one were treated with hormone/antiallergic drugs combined with RIT（control group）. The safety of the two groups was compared in the dose-increasing phase. Result:There was no grade Ⅰ systemic adverse reactions during the whole process in the experimental group, while Grade Ⅱ systemic adverse reactions were 4 cases（7.1%） during the period of hospitalization, 2 cases（3.6%） after the first injection after discharge, zero（0） after the second injection after discharge. No local pruritus and induration were observed. During the period of hospitalization, the first and second injection after discharge, control group had grade Ⅰ level systemic adverse reactions were 1 case（3.4%）, 2 cases（6.9%）, 1 case（3.4%） at different time point, respectively. Grade Ⅱ systemic adverse reactions were 5 cases（17.2%）, 1 case（3.4%）, zero（0） at different time point, respectively. Local injection site itching was observed in 8 patients（5 cases were mild and 3 cases were moderate） and 4 cases（13.8%） had induration during hospitalization. Conclusion:Omalizumab combined with RIT not only shortens the duration of dose-increasing phase of specific immunotherapy, but also increases the safety of the dose-increasing phase during hospitalization, the first and second injection after discharge and improves patient compliance.