Clinical Outcome of Asthma with House Dust Immunotherapy

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased infiltration of various inflammatory cells into airway. Several previous studies showed specific immunotherapy improved clinical features of asthma due to aeroallergens. Objective: To describe the efficacy of house dust immunotherapy in childhood asthma with house dust allergy. Methods: The asthmatic patients were collected from January to December 2003, from medical records of Allergy Clinic Outpatient's Department, Dr Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya. The allergy skin testing was done to all patients. Patients who suffered from asthma with or without other symptoms (Allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria) positive house dust allergy were enrolled in this study. Patients with food allergy were controlled with elimination diet, and immunotherapy with house dust extract was given to all patients. The symptoms at the first visit and late 3 months of 1 year immunotherapy were recorded. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results: There were 213 patients came to Allergy outpatient clinic during 2003, 90 (42%) suffered from asthma, 41 (46%) of them received immunotherapy, 41 (46%) did not receive immunotherapy, and 5 (24%) discontinued immunotherapy. Twenty seven (66%) of those received immunotherapy showed no symptom of asthma and other allergy manifestation after one year of treatment, 10 (24%) showed no asthma attack, but other symptoms still occurred infrequently, 4 (10%) showed asthma attack and other symptoms. Conclusion: Immunotherapy results in clinical improvement among 90% of asthmatic children with house dust allergy, and should be suggested in the management of childhood asthma with house dust allergy. It seems that immunotherapy also results in the decrease of other symptoms related with allergy.