INFLUENCE OF A BACTERIAL EXTRACT, BRONCHO-VAXOM, ON CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH INTRINSIC ASTHMA

The effect of Broncho-Vaxom (BV), an orally administered lyophilized b acterial extract, has been investigated by a single-blind study on 50 patients with intrinsic asthma. In addition to conventional therapy, 2 5 patients received BV and the other 25 did not (in order to serve as controls). Both groups were matched with respect to age, sex, case his tory and pulmonary function. At the end of the 6-months trial, the cli nical parameters showed a statistically significant improvement in the BV group (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group and this was a ccompanied by a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the number and dur ation of asthmatic attacks. Moreover, the pulmonary function tests (FE V1/FVC%) and the bronchial responsiveness to methacholine challenge (P D20) were significantly improved in the BV-treated patients (p < 0.05) , while in the control group the values remained unaltered. Treatment with BV resulted in a significant increase in the serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM (p < 0.05), with a statistically significant drop in the serum levels of IgE (p < 0.05). There was no change in the immunoglobu lin levels in the control group. In the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid there was a decrease in the eosinophil count (p < 0.05), a correction towards normal value of the Th/Ts ratio (p < 0.01) and an increase in the secretory IgA/albumin in the BV group, while no changes were noted in the control group. These results denote that Broncho-Vaxom has a v aluable effect both clinically and immunologically in patients with in trinsic asthma.