Effects of specific immunotherapy on allergic rhinitis children accompanied with asthma

AIM: To explore the effects of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) on the serum interleukin (IL)-13,IL-4,interferon (IFN)-γ, nasal symptoms and pulmonary functions in allergic rhinitis children accompanied with asthma. METHODS: Fifty-eight cases of allergic rhinitis children accompanied with asthma participated in this study. Their allergens were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Thirty-five children received SIT were SIT group, and the other 23 children received local glucocorticoid treatment were medical group. The serum levels of IL-13, IL-4 and IFN-γ were examined, and the nasal symptoms and pulmonary functions were checked before treatment and one year after treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in nasal symptoms between the two groups one year after treatment (P<0.05). The patients in SIT group had fewer symptoms. The serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 were clearly reduced. IFN-γ and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 were significantly increased (P<0.05). The pulmonary functions were significantly improved in SIT group (P<0.05). Meanwhile in medical group, the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 had less change (P>0.05), and the pulmonary functions were poorly improved (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: SIT may regulate the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells in allergic rhinitis accompanied with asthma by reducing the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 and increasing IFN-γ and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4, resulting in reducing the nasal symptoms and improving the pulmonary functions.