Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all subjects before NPT.
| Subjects' characteristics | Non-AIT subjects (n = 14) | AIT subjects | P value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 wk (n = 10) | 52 wk (n = 10) | 104 wk (n = 10) | 156 wk (n = 10) | ||||
| Age (yr) | 24.71 ± 9.17 | 27.70 ± 9.13 | 28.80 ± 9.05 | 30.60 ± 12.94 | 34.70 ± 10.51 | 0.215 | |
| Sex (female) | 35.70 | 40.00 | 40.00 | 40.00 | 30.00 | 0.987 | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 21.01 ± 2.73 | 21.12 ± 3.52 | 21.05 ± 3.51 | 22.33 ± 3.54 | 22.29 ± 2.71 | 0.735 | |
| Age of rhinitis onset (yr) | 13.57 ± 7.39 | 17.90 ± 10.83 | 17.70 ± 8.41 | 18.30 ± 14.09 | 13.20 ± 6.91 | 0.570 | |
| Combined with asthma | 92.90 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 90.00 | 100.00 | 0.220 | |
| FeNO (ppb) | 47.85 ± 20.19 | 37.40 ± 20.68 | 37.30 ± 14.91 | 36.30 ± 14.15 | 36.80 ± 13.27 | 0.386 | |
| Parameters of lung function | |||||||
| FEV1 (% predicted) | 92.09 ± 6.49 | 92.38 ± 6.32 | 88.46 ± 7.61 | 90.20 ± 6.43 | 88.08 ± 7.42 | 0.747 | |
| FVC (% predicted) | 97.72 ± 8.65 | 99.58 ± 11.75 | 104.00 ± 15.17 | 102.59 ± 8.62 | 105.92 ± 11.31 | 0.410 | |
| FEV1/FVC (% predicted) | 94.66 ± 13.12 | 91.60 ± 9.40 | 86.73 ± 10.60 | 92.50 ± 10.93 | 84.02 ± 6.23 | 0.124 | |
| FEF25–75 (% predicted) | 76.21 ± 30.32 | 62.65 ± 16.50 | 61.92 ± 27.28 | 66.78 ± 22.61 | 49.20 ± 7.860 | 0.101 | |
| BHR (PD20 mg) | 0.99 ± 0.91 | 1.46 ± 1.11 | 1.41 ± 1.18 | 1.20 ± 0.99 | 1.26 ± 0.99 | 0.619 | |
| Total IgE (kU/l) | 230.50 (155.00–718.50) | 447.00 (278.00–1,636.00) | 311.50 (130.25–609.00) | 753.50 (433.75–1,314.50) | 315.50 (112.40–744.25) | 0.145 | |
| sIgE of Der-p (kU/l) | 33.55 (20.18–62.57) | 77.92 (27.55–174.50) | 34.40 (9.54–95.20) | 51.75 (33.65–114.58) | 34.85 (9.13–69.60) | 0.240 | |
| sIgE of Der-f (kU/l) | 28.30 (26.10–59.50) | 65.70 (45.40–143.23) | 32.95 (20.85–85.21) | 65.25 (42.98–122.52) | 35.30 (6.48–59.80) | 0.064 | |
| Wheal of Der-p SPT (mm) | 11.32 ± 3.91 | 6.38 ± 1.80* | 5.05 ± 1.42* | 4.60 ± 1.47* | 4.55 ± 1.09* | <0.001 | |
| Wheal of Der-f SPT (mm) | 9.54 ± 5.50 | 6.08 ± 1.98* | 4.78 ± 1.51* | 5.25 ± 1.55* | 5.25 ± 1.64* | 0.003 | |
| Peripheral neutrophil (109/L) | 3.72 ± 1.71 | 3.92 ± 1.36 | 3.45 ± 1.25 | 3.71 ± 1.13 | 3.53 ± 1.46 | 0.738 | |
| Peripheral eosinophil count (109/L) | 0.42 ± 0.29 | 0.32 ± 0.23 | 0.29 ± 0.14 | 0.37 ± 0.23 | 0.25 ± 0.11 | 0.373 | |
| Nasal lavage eosinophils (/200 H&E) | 19.76 ± 16.31 | 16.00 ± 13.61 | 14.70 ± 10.52 | 18.50 ± 12.00 | 7.65 ± 4.97* | 0.229 | |
| Induced sputum | |||||||
| Neutrophil | 31.84 ± 18.75 | 28.40 ± 23.65 | 35.40 ± 16.30 | 35.62 ± 21.87 | 48.99 ± 16.73 | 0.144 | |
| Eosinophil | 11.54 ± 4.81 | 7.93 ± 4.52 | 8.52 ± 5.94 | 7.43 ± 5.92 | 3.51 ± 2.74* | 0.009 | |
| Lymphocyte | 2.58 ± 3.72 | 1.81 ± 4.27 | 1.83 ± 1.65 | 1.53 ± 1.86 | 1.82 ± 2.69 | 0.942 | |
| Macrophage | 54.05 ± 21.97 | 61.86 ± 30.00 | 54.25 ± 20.00 | 55.42 ± 27.56 | 45.68 ± 16.29 | 0.727 | |
| Overall RQLQ score | 48.86 ± 19.90 | 38.60 ± 34.29 | 36.70 ± 29.27 | 23.30 ± 14.06* | 21.30 ± 16.50* | <0.001 | |
| Asthma control test score | 23.71 ± 1.38 | 24.4 ± 0.97 | 24.8 ± 0.42 | 24.9 ± 0.31 | 24.5 ± 0.53 | 0.108 | |
| Current medications | |||||||
| ICS | 74.42 | 30.00 | 40.00 | 30.00 | 10.00 | 0.037 | |
| LTRA | 21.43 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | <0.001 | |
| Antihistamine | 42.86 | 10.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.006 | |
| Intranasal CS | 57.14 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 0.00 | 0.024 | |
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, median (interquartile range), or number (%). P value was calculated from analysis of variance, Fisher's exact test, or Kruskal-Wallis test among the 5 groups.
AIT, allergen-specific immunotherapy; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEF25–75, forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; CS, corticosteroid; IgE, immunoglobulin E; sIgE, specific immunoglobulin E; FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonist; BHR, bronchial hyperresponsiveness; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; RQLQ, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire; SPT, skin prick testing; Der-f, Dermatophagoides farinae; Der-p, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
*P < 0.05 compared to non-AIT subjects.