Rush-Immuntherapie bei inhalativer Allergie auf Rattenepithelien

Background The only causal treatment that can be offered to allergic patients apart from allergen avoidance is specific immunotherapy. Its efficacy depends on the specific allergen the patient is allergic to, the quality of the extract, the total amount of allergen administered to the patient and the administration schedule. Methods and patient Our patient suffered from inhalative allergy to rat epithelium with severe rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma. She regularly worked with laboratory rats as a biologist. A job-shift was impossible for the patient, and so was allergen avoidance. We therefore decided to treat the patient with specific immunotherapy. Treatment was performed as in-patient procedure with Rush-Immunotherapy in dosage increase phase. Maintenance injections were administered as out-patient. Results As early as some months after induction of the therapy, the patient felt subjective symptom relief, blood samples taken revealed decrease of total IgE and specific IgE towards rat epithelium. Therapy was continued for 18 months, specific IgE against rat epithelium could not be detected any more. The patient does not claim any allergy symptoms when working in the rat laboratory any more. Conclusions Even in unusual allergies, specific immunotherapy can be indicated. In our patient, specific immunotherapy to rat epithelium lead to complete symptom relief and enabled the patient to practise her profession without restraints.