Topical nasal immunotherapy. Immunologic response of IgE in nasal secretion after immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

We studied 9 children between 9 and 14 years old who had been diagnosed with exclusive allergic rhinitis and were sensitive to acari. Topical nasal immunotherapy for D. pteronyssinus was carried out for 2 years. The total IgE in nasal secretions measured before immunotherapy showed levels of 14.2 to 85.2 IU/ml, and the specific IgE in nasal secretion against D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae ranged from 0.6 to 8.86 PRU (classes II and III). After the immunotherapy the total IgE in nasal secretion fell in 8 of the 9 children (average 24.2 IU/ml. Range 5.6 to 53.3 IU/ml). The specific IgE against D. pteronyssinus rose in 6 children and fell in 3, and all but one of the children remained in class II-III. The tolerance to the immunotherapy was good in all the children.