IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH A STANDARDIZED DERMATOPHAGOIDES-PTERONYSSINUS GLUTARALDEHYDE-MODIFIED EXTRACT AGAINST AN UNMODIFIED EXTRACT - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF EFFICACY, TOLERANCE AND IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO MODIFICATIONOF PARAMETERS

We comparatively studied clinical efficacy, tolerance and modification s of different in vivo and in vitro parameters induced by two biologic ally standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extracts (HEP units), one glutaraldehyde-modified in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma after a year of treatment. A decrease in drug consum ption was observed in both treatment groups (p <0.0001). Of all the in vivo parameters studied (cutaneous, conjunctival and bronchial reacti vity to the allergen), a decrease in specific bronchial reactivity was only observed in the group treated with the modified extract (9 <0.05 ). The modifications in total IgE, specific IgE and specific total IgG levels are superimposable on those described in previous papers on im munotherapy. However, IgG, levels remained stable with respect to time . Tolerance was good and very similar for both treatments; both types of extracts are equally efficacious and safe.