Effect of Subcutaneous Immunotherapy on The Natural Course of Allergic Diseases in Pediatric Patients: A Real-Life Cohort
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Aim: Specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT) is the only disease-modifying therapy for allergic diseases. We aimed to examine the effectof subcutaneous specific allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) applications on the prognosis of asthma and allergic rhinitis in pediatric casesin real-life settings.Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study. Patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis aged between 5 and18 years old were enrolled between 2010 and 2015. The groups who received SCIT and who did not receive were compared in termsof disease severity parameters in follow-up recorded in their files.Results: A total of 298 cases, among which 140 received subcutaneous specific allergen immunotherapy. The frequency of asthma,allergic rhinitis, and co-morbidity was similar between the two groups. In the first year of the follow-up, asthma symptoms severitywas not significant between the two groups; however, both asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms were significantly lower in the SCITpatients at the end of the third year of follow-up. While the follow-up rate for three years or more was 62% in the group that receivedsubcutaneous specific allergen immunotherapy, it was 38% in the group that did not receive.Conclusion: These results showed that SIT is an effective treatment modality in real-life settings with low side effects in pediatricpatients with uncontrolled asthma and allergic rhinitis despite medical treatment.