2133 Safety of Sublingual Immunotherapy with Standardized Vaccines of Domestic Mites

Monday, 5 December 2011
Poster Hall (Cancún Center)

Mirta Alvarez, MD , Allergology Department, University Hospital Calixto García, Havana City, Cuba

Raúl Castro, MD , Allergens, National Center of Bioproducts, Havana City, Cuba

Daniel Gutierrez, MD , Allergology, University Hospital Calixto García, Havana City, Cuba

Alexis Labrada, PhD , Allergens, National Center of Bioproducts, Havana City, Cuba

Irene Enriquez, MD , Allergology Department, University Hospital Calixto García, Havana City, Cuba

Mercedes Ronquillo, MD , Allergology Department, University Hospital Calixto García, Havana City, Cuba

José Rodríguez, MD , Allergology Department, University Hospital Calixto García, Havana City, Cuba

Iris García, MD , Allergology Department, University Hospital Calixto García, Havana City, Cuba

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy, consists of administering  gradually increasing doses of the allergen, to which the patient is sensitized, aiming at achieving  tolerance to it and decreasing clinical symptoms. The sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) was introduced as an alternative to subcutaneous route. Its  use is being increased in the world and in Cuba, using standardized vaccines owing to greater safety.The objective of this study was to determine the safety of  sublingual standardized vaccines of three domestic mite  species (VALERGEN, Cuba) and its adverse events in allergic patients   from the Calixto García University Hospital in Havana, as well as the frequency of its prescription.

Methods: descriptive and cross sectional study design, which included  130 patients with treatment of SLIT with VALERGEN-DP (Dermatophagoides  pteronyssinus), VALERGEN-DS (D. siboney) and VALERGEN-BT (Blomia  tropicalis)   (BIOCEN, Cuba), who attended the Allergy Service in the period January-September 2010. Age distribution: mean  19.6 years (range  1-75), 40.7 % was younger than 18 years.

Results: The multiallergen vaccine was the vaccine type most used (63.8%). The most common allergen was D. pteronyssinus  followed by B. tropicalis. 71,55% of administered allergens vaccines  were in maintenance phase. We found 4 adverse events (3.1% of patients), all local, mild, and not requiring treatment or change of  vaccination  dosing schedule.

Conclusions: The VALERGEN vaccines by  sublingual route are safe and well tolerated in Cuban allergic patients.