An Enquiry into the Value of Autohaemotherapy in Juvenile Asthma

In view of the uncertainty of the usual results of specific desensitization methods in allergic types of bronchial asthma, this enquiry was undertaken to determine whether the claims made in some quarters for the value of a course of injections of the patient's own blood in the relief of this distressing malady were justified or not. The reactions of the skin to foreign proteins of all classes of antigens, particularly pollens, dusts, foods, bacteria, orris root, etc., have been used in the past. Desensitization seriatim or by a mixture of the apparently offending substances has usually proved fruitless in our department. The skin sensitivity to the scratch method has varied greatly in the same individual tested at intervals. It appears to be a practical impossibility in hospital practice to test each child for every possible antigen to which he is exposed. The method of autohaemotherapy seemed a simple and easily-applied type of parenteral injection therapy which on grounds of economy should appeal to the most conscientious hospital board. The series of asthmatic patients reported as treated by this method is small. The procedure is by no means new, as Kahn and Emsheimer' in 1916 obtained good results in six successive patients; Henske' subsequently was satisfied with the improvement in nine of sixteen patients and Carranza and Orgaz' reported ten out of thirteen patients to be ' much improved.' Achard and Flandin4 used 0-5-2 c.c. doses every 12-24 hours, with better results in other allergic disorders than in asthma.