Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rush immunotherapy reduces airway inflammation in cats with allergic
By Reinero, Carol R et al.·Published in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology·2006·Department of Pathology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rush immunotherapy in an experimental model of feline allergic asthma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with allergic asthma were treated with a special immunotherapy that involved giving them increasing doses of Bermuda grass allergen over two days. After six months, the cats that received this treatment showed a significant decrease in eosinophils, which are white blood cells that contribute to inflammation in the airways. Additionally, these cats had higher levels of a specific antibody (IgG) that helps fight the allergen compared to those that did not receive the treatment. Overall, the immunotherapy appeared to reduce airway inflammation and could be a promising option for managing feline asthma.
People also search for: cat asthma treatment · feline allergic asthma immunotherapy · Bermuda grass allergy in cats
Abstract
Specific allergen immunotherapy represents the only curative treatment of allergy. No studies have evaluated its efficacy in feline allergic asthma. We hypothesized that an abbreviated course of immunotherapy (rush immunotherapy, RIT) would blunt eosinophilic airways inflammation in experimental feline asthma induced with Bermuda grass allergen (BGA). The 6-month study included asthmatic-RIT treated cats; asthmatic-no RIT treated cats; and non-asthmatic cats. RIT involved increasing parenteral doses (20-200 microg) of BGA over 2 days. Numbers of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum and BALF immunoglobulins, lymphocyte blastogenesis assays, and cytokines in blood and BALF were evaluated. BALF eosinophils decreased (P=0.048) only in asthmatic-RIT treated cats (baseline 1.1 x 10(6); Month 6, 2.4 x 10(5)). Serum BGA-specific IgG was higher (P<0.001) at all time points after baseline within the asthmatic-RIT group, and was higher (P<0.001) than asthmatic-no RIT cats at Months 1 and 3. No differences (P=0.133) in BGA-specific IgE levels over time were noted among asthmatic-RIT cats, but this group had lower IgE levels (P<0.001) levels than asthmatic no-RIT cats at Months 3 and 6. Differences in BGA-specific IgA levels over time and between the two groups did not reach the traditional level of significance. The mean BGA stimulation index in the asthmatic-RIT cats was biologically insignificant at 6 months, reflecting BGA-specific lymphocyte hypoproliferation. Preliminary results of cytokine profiles were not significantly different; however, BAL cytokine profiles favoring a Th2 response prior to RIT shifted to increased IFN-g and IL-10 thereafter. RIT dampens eosinophilic airways inflammation in cats with experimental asthma. The mechanism of RIT may involve changes in allergen-specific immunoglobulins, induction of hyporesponsive lymphocytes, or alteration of cytokine profiles.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16325921/