Open-labeled Pilot Study of Intralymphatic Immunotherapy (ILIT) for House Dust Mite, Cat, and Dog Allergen in Allergic Rhinitis Patients

After informed consent, causal allergen was injected into inguinal lymph node through guidance by ultrasonography three times with 4-week interval. Initial dose of allergen was 1,000-fold diluted solution from maximal concentration of allergen extract for subcutaneous immunotherapy (30 AU/ml for Df or Dp, 10 AU/ml for Cat hair, and 1:1/10 weight/volume for dog hair/dander, HollisterStier, New Orleans, USA) in volume of 0.1ml. After the first dose, allergen concentration was escalated 3-fold at second dose, and 10-fold at third dose if there was no or mild local or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. The allergen concentration did not change at second or third dose if there was moderate local or systemic reaction. The allergen concentration was decreased by 10 or 100-fold from previous concentration if there was severe local or systemic reaction.

The investigators evaluated parameters regarding allergic rhinitis within a week before the first injection and 4 months after the first injection. These parameters included Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20), and Visual analogue scale (VAS) of symptoms including rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, eye/nose/ear/palate itching, dyspnea, wheezing, chest discomfort as well as urticaria, angioedema, and itching on exposed skin during exposure to causal allergen in daily life. Skin prick test, intradermal test, blood sampling for serum allergen-specific IgE, exhaled nitric oxide, and nasal lavage for Th1, Th2, and Treg cytokines were also included. Adverse events were recorded and graded according to Muller's classification and Ring and Messmer's classification.