Effects of immunotherapy on pulmonary functions and airway hyper-reactivity in patients with allergic asthma to house dust mites

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the effects of immunotherapy with an extract of house dust mites on 20 asthmatic palients allergic to house dust mites during 12 months period. The results of this study showed that there is statistically significant improvement in the pulmonary function parameters including FVC, FEV[1], FEV[1]/ FVC% and PEFR, and also there was statistically significant reduction in airway hyperreactivity to methacholine after completion the course of immunotherapy, these finding suggest that in well selected asthmatic patients allergic to house dust mites only, the immunotherapy is effective in improving pulmonary functions and reducing airway hyperreactivity in these patients