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Veterinary sciences2023; 10(10); doi: 10.3390/vetsci10100613

Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Allergen-Specific Immuno-Therapy in Horses with Allergic Cutaneous and Respiratory Diseases-A Systematic Review.

Abstract: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only current intervention that has the ability to modify the immune response toward a tolerogenic state. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of AIT in horses with allergic diseases in a systematic manner. Three databases were searched to identify articles reporting clinical outcomes and adverse events associated with AIT. The articles were evaluated for beneficial responses to AIT, defined as a ≥50% reduction in clinical signs, and clinical remission. Horses with respiratory diseases, urticaria, and pruritic dermatitis receiving insect monotherapy or multi-allergen AIT were included. All adverse events were graded, and analytical and confounding biases were assessed. The results showed that multi-allergen AIT had a beneficial response in 75% of horses with respiratory diseases, 88% with urticaria, and 56% with pruritic dermatitis. However, horses treated solely with insect AIT for pruritic dermatitis had a lower response rate (36%). Self-limiting local reactions were the most common adverse events, with systemic reactions grade II accounting for 11% of reported events. Analytical and confounding biases were identified as major limitations in the available studies. Further research is needed to address these biases and provide stronger evidence on the efficacy and safety of AIT in horses with allergic diseases.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-10 PubMed ID: 37888565PubMed Central: PMC10611411DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10100613Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses an evaluation of the efficacy and safety of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) used to treat horses with allergic diseases such as respiratory diseases, urticaria, and pruritic dermatitis. The study, involving a systematic review design, found that the treatment had varying levels of success, with the highest observed in horses with respiratory diseases, and fewer side-effects reported were mostly of self-limiting local reactions.

Research Method

  • The research was conducted through a systematic review of articles selected from three databases. These articles reported on the clinical outcomes and any adverse events related to the use of AIT in the treatment of horses with allergic diseases.
  • The researchers included horses with respiratory diseases, urticaria, and pruritic dermatitis who had received insect monotherapy or multi-allergen AIT treatment in this study.
  • Beneficial responses to AIT were defined as having a reduction of 50% or more in the clinical signs of the disease and achieving clinical remission.

Results and Findings

  • The study found that 75% of horses with respiratory diseases, 88% with urticaria, and 56% with pruritic dermatitis benefited from multi-allergen AIT treatment.
  • However, when only insect AIT was used to treat pruritic dermatitis, the response rate was lower at 36%.
  • While AIT was generally safe, the most commonly reported side effects were self-limiting local reactions. Systemic reactions of grade II accounted for 11% of the reported events.

Limitations and Future Recommendations

  • The study identified analytical and confounding biases in the reviewed articles as a major limitation preventing a definitive conclusion on the efficacy and safety of AIT.
  • To address these biases, further research is necessary which can help provide stronger evidence to support the use of AIT in treating allergic diseases in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Herrmann I, Sanchez AJ. (2023). Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Allergen-Specific Immuno-Therapy in Horses with Allergic Cutaneous and Respiratory Diseases-A Systematic Review. Vet Sci, 10(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10100613

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 10

Researcher Affiliations

Herrmann, Ina
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Sanchez, Adrianna Jordan
  • Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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