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Larenas-Linnemann D, Morfin-Maciel BM, Bedolla-Barajas M, López-Bago A, Navarrete Rodríguez EM, Mogica-Martínez MD, Gereda JE, Sarrazola Sanjuan M, Cano Pedroza RY, Cavallo MC, Romero Tapia SDJ, Jossen RA, Fuentes Pérez JM, Del Rio Navarro BE, Rodríguez Zagal E, Piraino Sosa PA, Huerta Villalobos YR, Chavez-Vereau P, García Imperial DA, Olivares Gómez M, Valle Rodríguez F, Zuñiga Reyes CO, Rodríguez-González M, Gallego Corella CI, Ivancevich JC, García Cruz MDLLH, Repka-Ramirez MS, Flores Morales ME, Fernández De Córdova Aguirre JC, Luna-Pech JA, Rivero Yeverino D, Martínez Guzmán E, Pérez Ortiz CE, Villa Médica L. Aeroallergen immunotherapy associated with reduced risk of severe COVID-19 in 1095 allergic patients. World Allergy Organ J 2023; 16:100779. [PMID: 37251811 PMCID: PMC10154540 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2023.100779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) brings along changes in the immune system, restoring dendritic cell function, reducing T2 inflammation and augmenting the regulatory cell activation. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, interferes with the immune system causing immune suppression during the first phase and over-activation in more advanced disease. We decided to explore the interaction of both in a real-world observational trial. Methods We registered COVID-19 outcomes in patients with allergic disorders in Latin America, treated with and without AIT. The registry was conducted during the first 1.3 years of the pandemic, with most of the data collected before COVID-19 vaccination was concluded in most countries. Data collection was anonymous via a web-based instrument. Ten countries participated. Results 630/1095 (57.6%) of the included patients received AIT. Compared to patients without AIT, those treated with AIT had a reduced risk ratio (RR) for COVID-19 lower respiratory symptoms (RR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.6703-0.9024; p = 0.001662) and need for oxygen therapy (RR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.4217-0.9992; p = 0.048). In adherent patients on maintenance sublingual immunotherapy/subcutaneous immunotherapy (SLIT/SCIT) the RR reduction was larger [RR = 0.6136 (95% CI 0.4623-0.8143; p < 0.001) and RR: 0.3495 (95% CI 0.1822-0.6701; p < 0.005), respectively]. SLIT was slightly more effective (NS). We excluded age, comorbidities, level of health care attendance, and type of allergic disorder as confounders, although asthma was related to a higher frequency of severe disease. When analyzing patients with allergic asthma (n = 503) the RR reduction favoring AIT was more pronounced with 30% for lower respiratory symptoms or worse (RR 0.6914, 95% CI 0.5264 to 0.9081, p = 0.0087) and 51% for need of oxygen therapy or worse (RR 0.4868, 95% CI 0.2829-0.8376, p = 0.0082). Among severe allergic patients treated with biologics (n = 24) only 2/24 needed oxygen therapy. There were no critical cases among them. Conclusion In our registry AIT was associated with reduced COVID-19 severity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ana López-Bago
- Facultad de medicina, Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | - María Cecilia Cavallo
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Hospital San Martín, Paraná ER Argentina
| | | | | | - José Miguel Fuentes Pérez
- Hospital de Especialidades Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Blanca E Del Rio Navarro
- Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Servicio de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - María Susana Repka-Ramirez
- Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Department, Hospital de Clínicas-FCM, Universidad Nacional, Asunción, Paraguay
| | | | | | - Jorge A Luna-Pech
- Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
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