Monitoring antioxidant enzymes in red cells during allergen immunotherapy

ABSTRACT

The aim of this report was to answer the question how specific immunotherapyinfluences the antioxidant enzyme system in patients with respiratory allergy and inlonger perspective to find markers suitable to assess the efficacy of treatment. In openprospective randomised study 28 patients (18 females and 10 males, age 14 – 48 years)with seasonal respiratory allergy were treated with allergen immunotherapy. Subjectsreceived subcutaneous therapy with allergens absorbed on calcium phoshate or aluminiumhydroxide and were analyzed by the established protocol at the beginning,after three and 12 month of the treatment. In all treatment group red cell superoxidedismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were in the normal range in allergicpatients both before and during the treatment. Catalase activity in the allergicpatients was lower as compared with controls and a significant increase of theenzyme activity occurred during and at the end of the treatment. In patients treatedwith calcium phosphate adsorbed allergen there was a continous increase of catalaseactivity from beginning up to the end of observation. In the case of the aluminiumhydroxide treatment there was an increase from the baseline values up in the thirdmonth of the treatment and a decrease on the 12th month. In summary, the presentresults open the question that allergen immunotherapy may cause imbalance of oxidantsand antioxidants. To support our findings larger controlled field studies areneeded (AU)

RESUMEN

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