Immunotherapy for allergic fungal sinusitis: Three years' experience

Since August 1994, we have treated patients with histologically proven alle rgic fungal sinusitis with surgery followed by immunotherapy, employing fun gal and nonfungal antigens to which hypersensitivity has been demonstrated. Our results continue to be encouraging. Not only have we encountered no in dication that fungal immunotherapy has worsened these patients' condition o r caused a recurrence of disease, we have confirmed dramatic improvement in these patients compared with the generally accepted course of this disease . Of 11 patients who have received immunotherapy for 1 to 3 years (mean 28 months), none has required regular or frequent treatment with a single brie f course of systemic steroids, and only three are receiving topical nasal s teroids. No repeat surgeries for recurrent allergic fungal sinusitis have b een required in the treatment group. This combination of surgery and immuno therapy has continued to prove beneficial, and we urge others to consider t his approach to therapy.