Safety of home-based and office allergy immunotherapy: A multicenter prospective study

During a 1-year period, 27 otolaryngic allergy practices recorded all systemic reactions to immunotherapy resulting from 635,600 patient visits and 1,144,000 injections. Sixty percent of injections were given at home. Major systemic reactions were observed after 0. 005% of injections. There were no...

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Published inOtolaryngology-head and neck surgery Vol. 121; no. 5; p. 553
Main Authors Hurst, D S, Gordon, B R, Fornadley, J A, Hunsaker, D H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.11.1999
Subjects
Adult
Ambulatory Care
Anaphylaxis - etiology
Child
Desensitization, Immunologic - methods
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Home Care Services
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Delayed - etiology
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - etiology
Male
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Respiratory Hypersensitivity - immunology
Respiratory Hypersensitivity - therapy
Risk Factors
Self Administration
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Summary:During a 1-year period, 27 otolaryngic allergy practices recorded all systemic reactions to immunotherapy resulting from 635,600 patient visits and 1,144,000 injections. Sixty percent of injections were given at home. Major systemic reactions were observed after 0. 005% of injections. There were no hospitalizations or deaths. Eighty-seven percent of major reactions began within 20 minutes of injection. Frequently observed risk factors for major reactions were buildup phase of immunotherapy, active asthma, and first injection from a treatment vial. Home and office injections had similar rates of total systemic reactions, but home-based immunotherapy had far fewer major reactions. Home-based immunotherapy was found to be safe. The methods and precautions used to treat patients with this degree of safety are specified and discussed.
ISSN:0194-5998
DOI:10.1016/S0194-5998(99)70055-0