Allergen Immunotherapy safe and effective therapy for allergic Rhinitis with Rheumatic Autoimmune Disease

Written By : Dr.Niharika Harsha B |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-07-14T09:30:41+05:30 | Updated On 14 July 2022 2:13 PM IST

Allergen Immunotherapy was found to be a safe and effective treatment modality in patients with allergic rhinitis complicated by Rheumatic Autoimmune Disease according to a study published in the journal, Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 2022.

Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a common allergic disease that is caused by an IgE-mediated inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT) has modified the natural history of allergic diseases. AIT has been absolutely or relatively contraindicated in patients with Rheumatic Autoimmune diseases (RADs) as the overall effect of AIT on the immune system has not been explored much. As there were no long-term studies on patients with RADs receiving AIT, researchers from Japan conducted a study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of AITs in patients with RADs.

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A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted on RAD patients receiving AIT for AR. Changes in the activity of RAD patients who were undergoing AIT treatment were investigated for 2 years from baseline, including those who discontinued it. Using the Japan Allergic Rhinitis Standard Quality of Life Questionnaire the effectiveness of AIT was investigated.

Results:

13 patients with RADs were enrolled in the study.
Sublingual immunotherapy was given to all patients. 4 discontinued AIT due to adverse events.
During the observation period, the symptoms of RADs in three patients worsened but none of them were causally related to AIT.
Most of the adverse events associated with AIT were mild, in which only 1 patient required drug intervention due to worsening rhinitis symptoms.
In the 9 patients who were able to continue AIT, the eye and nasal symptom scores showed a significant improvement from baseline to 2nd year of treatment.

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Thus, the researchers concluded that in patients with allergic rhinitis complicated by RADs Allergen Immunotherapy is a safe and effective treatment modality.

For the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-022-00703-0

Fujioka K, Kasahara A, Kida T, et al. Effectiveness and safety of allergen immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis complicated by rheumatic autoimmune diseases: a case series study. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2022;18(1):63. Published 2022 Jul 11.

Allergen Immunotherapyallergic rhinitisRheumatic Autoimmune diseasesSublingual AIT

Source : Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology

Dr.Niharika Harsha B

BDS, MDS

Dr.Niharika Harsha B (BDS,MDS) completed her BDS from Govt Dental College, Hyderabad and MDS from Dr.NTR University of health sciences(Now Kaloji Rao University). She has 4 years of private dental practice and worked for 2 years as Consultant Oral Radiologist at a Dental Imaging Centre in Hyderabad. She worked as Research Assistant and scientific writer in the development of Oral Anti cancer screening device with her seniors. She has a deep intriguing wish in writing highly engaging, captivating and informative medical content for a wider audience. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751