A pilot study of the effect of pullulan‐conjugated Der f 2 allergen‐specific immunotherapy on canine atopic dermatitis

• Published in: Veterinary dermatology 2017-12, Vol.28 (6), p.583-e141
• Main Authors: Kawano, Kouji, Mizuno, Takuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - therapeutic use; Arthropod Proteins - therapeutic use; Atopic dermatitis; Der f 2 antigen; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - veterinary; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dogs; Female; Glucans - chemistry; Glucocorticoids; House dust; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy - methods; Immunotherapy - veterinary; Male; Pilot Projects; Proteins; Pruritus; Pullulan; Recombinant Proteins; War
• ISSN: 0959-4493; 1365-3164
• DOI: 10.1111/vde.12470

Background Dermatophagoides farinae is a major and common environmental house dust mite involved in canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). A formulation of recombinant protein Der f 2 is available in Japan for immunotherapy in dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of a recombinant allergen based on Der f 2‐pullulan for the treatment of cAD. Methods Dogs (n = 15) with atopic dermatitis were administered Der f 2 conjugated with pullulan (‐P). Two dogs were eliminated because of death unrelated to the treatment during the study. The remaining 13 cases were included in the analysis. Clinical signs were evaluated with the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index (CADLI) and pruritus levels were evaluated from 0 to 10 with a pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS). Results The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of CADLI [before allergen‐specific immunotherapy (pre‐ASIT) 21.9 ± 9.7; 60 days post‐ASIT 9.8 ± 8.4 and 120 days post‐ASIT 9.7 ± 8.2] and the mean ± SD of PVAS [pre‐ASIT 7.2 ± 1.2; post‐ASIT (60 days) 2.6 ± 2.2 and post‐ASIT (120 days) 3.1 ± 2.5] significantly decreased after treatment (Dunnett's test, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the total doses of oral glucocorticoids in the two months pre‐ASIT significantly decreased in comparison with two months post‐ASIT (123 ± 72.6 mg vs. 70.0 ± 84.3 mg; Dunnett's test, P < 0.05). Conclusions and clinical importance The results indicate the effectiveness of Der f 2‐P recombinant protein in the treatment of dogs with CAD and testing positive to D. farinae. Résumé Contexte Dermatophagoides farinae est un important acarien de la poussière de maison impliqué dans la dermatite atopique canine (CAD). Une formulation d'une protéine recombinante de Derf2 est disponible au Japon pour immunothérapie chez le chien. Hypothèses/Objectifs Evaluer l'efficacité d'un allergène recombinant de pullulan de Derf2 pour le traitement de la CAD. Méthodes Des chiens (n = 15) atopiques ont reçu du Derf2 conjugué au pullulane (‐P). Deux chiens sont morts au cours de l’étude pour des raisons indépendantes du traitement. Les 13 cas restants ont été inclus dans l'analyse. Les signes cliniques ont été évalués par un CADLI (Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index) et les niveaux de prurit ont été évalués de 0 à 10 par un PVAS (pruritus Visual Analog Scale). Résultats La déviation standard (SD) moyenne du CADLI [avant immunothérapie spécifique d'allergène (pre‐ASIT) 21.9 ± 9.7; 60 jours post‐ASIT 9.8 ± 8.4 et 120 jours post‐ASIT 9.7 ± 8.2] et la moyenne ± SD