Polysensitization to aeroallergens: Study of clinical profiles and immunotherapy modalities of prescription

Purpose of the study. - To evaluate, in real life settings, the clinical profile and management of polysensitized patients according to the nature of allergens involved. Patients and methods. - Observational, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional study conducted in France in patients older than 5 years, polysensitised and having a respiratory allergy. Sociodemographic data, history of allergy and the therapeutic approach considered were collected from September 2010 to January 2011. Results. - Of the 2434 polysensitized patients, included by 287 qualified doctors in allergy, 70.2% were polyallergic. Mite allergens were the most involved (77%) then grass pollen (75%) and animal dander (43%). The most frequent polyallergies were mites and grass pollen associations (39.7% of patients). Following the visit, a specific immunotherapy was prescribed to 84.3% of patients. Perennial sensitization increased the likelihood of introduction of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), while polysensitization was not a factor. The SLIT prescribed were mites extracts (53.3% of cases), grasses extracts (20.3%), and tree pollens extracts (12.6%). Patients received a single preparation (72.5%), with a single allergen for 86% of them, or two preparations (26.3%) with a single allergen for 97%. Conclusion. - Polysensitisation with polyallergy is a common feature of patients who visit. The prescription of immunotherapy was adapted to the complex profile of these patients. Desensitization was directed primarily against mites. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.