Effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy with a mixture of polymerized allergen extracts of Alternaria alternata and olea europaea in children
Main Article Content
Keywords
Alternaria alternata, Olea europaea, children, allergen immunotherapy, glutaraldehyde-polymerized extracts, safety, effectiveness, pediatric respiratory allergy
Abstract
Background: In southern Europe, allergy to Alternaria alternata (A. alternata) and Olea europaea (O. europaea) pollen are prevalent, significantly contributing to allergic conditions like asthma and rhinitis. This study investigates the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy in pediatric patients utilizing a glutaraldehyde-polymerized allergen extract mixture of A. alternata and O. europaea.
Methods: This real-world, retrospective, observational study included pediatric patients diagnosed with rhinitis with or without asthma, co-sensitized to A. alternata and O. europaea. Patients received immunotherapy with a mixture of individually polymerized allergen extracts of A. alternata and O. europaea, each at a concentration of 10,000 TU/mL. Effectiveness was assessed by comparing rhinitis and asthma severity and medication requirements before and after at least 6 months of treatment. Safety was evaluated by documenting local and systemic adverse reactions.
Results: A total of 49 patients were included, with a median treatment duration of 9 months. Prior to treatment, 84% (41/49) of patients had moderate-severe rhinitis, which significantly decreased to 49% (24/49) posttreatment (p=0.001). Asthma severity also improved considerably, with the proportion of patients experiencing intermittent-mild asthma rising from 8% pretreatment to 61% posttreatment. The use of medication for both rhinitis and asthma also declined. Out of 424 injections, only two local reactions were reported (0.47%), with no systemic reactions.
Conclusion: Immunotherapy using a mixture of glutaraldehyde-polymerized A. alternata and O. europaea extract is both safe and effective in reducing the severity of rhinitis and asthma in children. This treatment exhibits a high safety profile, with a very low incidence of adverse reactions, making it a promising therapeutic option for pediatric patients with coexisting sensitivities to these common allergens.
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