Impact of nickel oral hyposensitization on quality of life in systemic nickel allergy syndrome

• Published in: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology Vol. 34; p. 2058738420934629
• Main Authors: Rizzi, Angela, Di Rienzo, Alessia, Buonomo, Alessandro, Aruanno, Arianna, Carusi, Valentina, Ricci, Anna Giulia, Centrone, Michele, Mezzacappa, Simona, Romeo, Lilli, Schiavino, Domenico, Inchingolo, Riccardo, Gasbarrini, Antonio, Nucera, Eleonora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 2020; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Allergies; Anxiety; Anxiety - etiology; Anxiety - psychology; Cohort Studies; Depression - etiology; Depression - psychology; Desensitization, Immunologic - methods; Female; Food allergies; Humans; Hypersensitivity - psychology; Hypersensitivity - therapy; Hypochondriasis - etiology; Hypochondriasis - psychology; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; MMPI; Mood; Nickel; Original; Patch Tests; Precision Medicine; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; immunotherapy and tolerance induction; quality of life; systemic nickel allergy syndrome; food allergy; personalized medicine
• ISSN: 2058-7384; 0394-6320; 2058-7384
• DOI: 10.1177/2058738420934629

Nickel (Ni) oral hyposensitization treatment (NiOHT) is an effective management approach for Ni allergy. No health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data exist for the pre- and post-treatment with NiOHT in systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS). The aims of this study were (a) to explore HRQoL in SNAS patients, (b) to assess changes of HRQoL after 1 year of NiOHT; (c) to evaluate psychological status of patients. SNAS patients completed the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey and Psychological General Well-Being Index before and 1 week after the end of NiOHT. Moreover, psychological state was assessed with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). A total of 52 patients self-reported pre- and post-treatment questionnaires. HRQoL was poor at baseline. After 1 year of NiOHT, all outcome measure scores improved by about 20% with respect to baseline data (P < 0.01 for all indices, except depressed mood). Finally, 33 patients performed the MMPI-2. High rates for hypochondriasis and depression were noted. Furthermore, most of the patients had high scores for anxiety, depression, and health concerns. This is the first study showing that NiOHT improves HRQoL of SNAS patients, which can be considered a “personalized medicine” approach.