Association of allergen sensitization patterns with clinical outcome of subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy in polysensitized allergic patients

Abstract

Introduction Understanding sensitization patterns helps clinicians tailor care more effectively. Most clinical studies with positive results used single allergens, but many patients are sensitized to multiple allergens. Aim This study was planned to assess the correlation between different allergen sensitization patterns (the presence of sensitization to some but not other allergens) and clinical effectiveness of subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy. Patients and methods This ex post facto study was conducted on patients with already diagnosed allergic disorders, who were attending our allergy and immunotherapy clinic and receiving subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy. Data collected include patient’s demographic data, diagnosis of allergic disorders, and sensitization pattern duration of subcutaneous immunotherapy. The outcome of subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy was assessed based on symptom score, medication score, and overall clinical outcome. Results A total of 100 patients were included. The frequencies of allergens, to which the patients were sensitized, were pollen (1 and 2) (63%), mold (61%), mite (59%), hay dust (41%), and chicken feather (23%). There were no significant association between sensitization patterns and the preimmunotherapy symptom and medication. Apart from cotton pollen, all other allergens were not associated with improvement in symptom score, and apart from chicken feather and dog sensitization all other allergens were not associated with improvement in medication score. Conclusion Allergen sensitization pattern could affect clinical outcome of subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy in polysensitized patients. Cotton pollen sensitization is associated with less improvement in symptoms score. Chicken feather sensitization is associated with significant improvement in medication score in contrast to dog hair sensitization. The number of allergens in each patient is not significantly associated with the clinical outcome of subcutaneous immunotherapy.

Keywords

• allergen sensitization
• sensitization pattern
• skin prick test
• subcutaneous immunotherapy