Abstract
Introduction: Cat allergy is often difficult to avoid. Here, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a depigmented, polymerized cat epithelium extract (Dpg-pol-cat) for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. Methods: Real-world, retrospective study of patients ≥12 years with cat allergy and moderate to severe allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis, with or without asthma, who started allergen immunotherapy (AIT) with Dpg-pol-cat extract during routine visits to the Allergy Department. Safety and effectiveness (improvement in FEV1) of AIT were evaluated. The use of rescue medication and patient perceptions were also assessed. Results: A total of 62 patients were included, of which 34 (54.8%) received at least 12 months of AIT. There were 15 adverse reactions, 8 local and 7 systemic, of which 3 led to AIT discontinuation. Patients with moderate to severe rhinitis decreased from 88.2% at baseline to 29.4% at 12 months (p <0.0001), and patients with moderate asthma decreased from 76.5% to 38.2% (p = 0.0004). FEV1 improved from a mean (SD) of 3188.9 (771.4) ml to 3419.6 (878.4) ml (p = 0.0023). The use of rescue medications for rhinitis decreased from 94.1% to 23.5% (p <0.0001), all patients requiring rescue medications for conjunctivitis (20.6%) were medication free at 12 months, and 97.1% and 92.6% of patients reported improvement in rhinitis and asthma symptoms, respectively. Conclusion: AIT with Dpg-pol-cat extract shows a favorable safety and effectiveness profile in patients with allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis, with or without allergic asthma, due to cat allergy, representing a valuable treatment option for these patients.
