Efficacy and safety of rush immunotherapy with alumprecipitated allergens in canine atopic dermatitis

Summary

Objectives: Canine atopic dermatitis is a very common disease in small animal practice. Its only specific treatment is allergen immunotherapy. In rush-immunotherapy (RIT) increasing doses of allergen extract are injected subcutaneously in short intervals. Maintenance doses are achieved within one day compared to weeks or months with conventional immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RIT with alum-precipitated allergens. Materials and methods: A series of 20 dogs with atopic dermatitis underwent RIT with alum-precipitated allergens. Pruritus and medications at the start of the immunotherapy and 12 months afterwards were compared and adverse effects were recorded. Results: Significant improvement in pruritus (p = 0.0001) and medication scores (p = 0.0004) was noted after approximately 12 months of treatment. The observed clinical response was good to excellent in 70% of the dogs, consistent with other published reports. One dog vomited once during the induction day, with no other clinical problems and completion of the normal protocol. The other 19 dogs showed no adverse effects at all during or after RIT. Conclusion and clinical relevance: RIT with alum-precipitated allergens seems to be a safe and efficacious method to treat dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Zusammenfassung

Gegenstand und Ziel: Die atopische Dermatitis des Hundes stellt eine häufige Erkrankung in der Kleintierpraxis dar. Die einzige ursächliche Therapie ist eine allergenspezifische Immuntherapie. Bei der Rush-Immuntherapie (RIT) werden aufsteigende Dosen von Allergenen in relativ kurzer Zeit bis zur Erhaltungsdosis subkutan appliziert. Die Erhaltungdosis wird bereits nach einem Tag erreicht, während dies bei der konventionellen Methode Wochen bis Monate dauert. Ziel dieser Studie war, die Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit einer RIT mit alumpräzipitierten Allergenen zu prüfen. Material und Methoden: Insgesamt 20 Hunde mit atopischer Dermatitis wurden mit RIT unter Verwendung alumpräzipitierter Allergene behandelt. Pruritus und Medikationen vor und ungefähr 12 Monate nach Beginn der Therapie wurden verglichen und Nebenwirkungen dokumentiert. Ergebnisse: Eine signifikante Verbesserung des Juckreizes (p = 0,0001) und des Medikamentenscores (p = 0,0004) konnte nach einer Behandlungszeit von ungefähr 12 Monaten festgestellt werden. Die klinische Verbesserung war bei 70% der Hunde gut bis hervorragend, was mit bereits publizierten Daten übereinstimmt. Ein Hund erbrach während der Induktionsphase einmalig, konnte aber die RIT ohne weitere Probleme beenden. Die restlichen 19 Hunde hatten keine Probleme während oder nach der RIT. Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz: Die RIT scheint eine sichere und wirksame Methode zur Behandlung der atopischen Dermatitis bei Hunden zu sein.

Key words

Dog - allergy - desensitization - treatment

Schlüsselwörter

Hund - Allergie - Desensibilisierung - Behandlung

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