[Efficacy of specific immunotherapy in the treatment of children and youngsters suffering from atopic dermatitis. Part I. Evaluation of clinical score]

Abstract

Despite undoubted progress in the field of allergology and clinical immunology we still lack an effective and secure therapeutic methods in many cases of atopic dermatitis. The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy of specific immunotherapy performed for the time period of 3 years with Novo-Helisen Depot allergy vaccines in the group of 36 children and youngsters with atopic dermatitis, allergic to house dust mites (24 patients) and grass pollen allergens (12 patients). The control group consisted of 20 patients with atopic dermatitis and analogous IgE-mediated airborne allergy treated with conventional methods. Clinical evaluation of patients was performed before treatment and after 36 months of therapy and was based on severity and extensiveness of skin inflammation in atopic dermatitis index: W-AZS. Clinical efficacy of specific immunotherapy was significantly higher than efficacy of conventional methods (p < 0.001). It was concluded that in selected patients with atopic dermatitis with IgE-mediated airborne allergy this method of treatment could be a promising alternative.