IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH A STANDARDIZED DERMATOPHAGOIDES-PTERONYSSINUS EXTRACT .6. SPECIFIC IMMUNOTHERAPY PREVENTS THE ONSET OF NEW SENSITIZATIONS IN CHILDREN

Background: Tile natural history of allergic sensitization is complex and poorly understood, A prospective nonrandomized study was carried o ut in a population of asthmatic children younger than 6 gears of age w hose only allergic sensitivity was to house dust mites (HDMs). Objecti ves: The study was designed to determine whether specific immunotherap y (SIT) with standardized allergen extracts could prevent the developm ent of new sensitizations over a 3-year follow-up survey. Methods: We studied 22 children monosensitized to HDM who were receiving SIT with standardized allergen extracts and 22 other age-matched control subjec ts who mere monosensitized to HDM. The initial investigation included a full clinical history, skin tests with a panel of standardized aller gens, and the measurement of allergen-specific IgE, depending on the r esults of skin tests. Children were followed up on an annual basis for 3 years, and the development of new sensitizations in each group was recorded. Results: Ten of 22 children monosensitized to BDM who were r eceiving SIT did not have new sensitivities compared with zero of 22 c hildren in the control group (p = 0.001, chi square test). Conclusions : This study suggests that SIT in children monosensitized to HDM alter s the natural course of allergy in preventing the development of new s ensitizations.