Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergy to Alternaria alternata in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

The aim of our study was to determine the degree of sensitization to Alternaria alternata in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and evaluate the effectiveness of SIT in patients sensitized to Alternaria alternata. Material and Methods: All patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 130 patients (53 women and 77 men) with COPD aged from 24 to 50 years. Group 2 included 162 patients (90 women and 72 men) with PAR aged from 15 to 46 years. The allergen-specific IgE to fungi of the genera: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Penicillinum notatum, as well as the allergen-specific serum IgG antibodies to Alt a 1 of Alternaria alternata were determined. To perform subcutaneous SIT, we used purified major Alt a 1 allergen of Alternaria alternate. Results: Our study showed that specific IgE antibodies to Alt a 1 were found in 38% and 44.6% patients with COPD and PAR, respectively. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) induced the IgG response against Alt a 1. The concentration of specific IgG antibodies to Alt a 1 increased approximately 8-fold in COPD patients and 15-fold in PAR patients after 8 months of treatment.

Keywords

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
• perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR);
• Alternaria alternate;
• allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT).