EFFICACY OF HYPOSENSITIZATION IN FELINE ALLERGIC DISEASES BASED UPON RESULTS OF IN-VITRO TESTING FOR ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN-E

A survey was undertaken to evaluate the responses to hyposensitization in cats for which a diagnosis of allergic disease was made by assessm ent of clinical signs and evaluation of allergen-specific immunoglobul in E (IgE) using the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Eighty-one cases were available for analysis. In 39 cases, a dietary change resulted i n some subjective improvement, which usually was minimal; however, som e cases had significant improvement. In 75.3% of cases, an improvement of at least 50% was noted and ascribed to a combination of immunother apy and dietary change, when implemented. The response of the 42 cases in which immunotherapy alone was used or where there was no response to dietary change was broadly similar. Response of the specific dermat ological conditions ranged from 93.6% in the case of linear granuloma to 60% in cases where self-induced hair loss was evident. Response als o was good in cases of presumed allergic asthma (86.1% improvement) an d suspected allergic otitis externa (62.6% improvement). In nine patie nts, the hyposensitization was discontinued due to lack of response. T he results suggest that confirmation of a suspected diagnosis of aller gic disease in cats by means of in vitro tests and subsequent therapy with hyposensitization should be a major consideration in feline pract ice.