Allergic asthma: measures of foreclosure pets seem to be effective

For people with allergic asthma in pets, is to be separated from their pet is more efficient, in terms of changes in bronchial responsiveness and reducing consumption of inhaled corticosteroids, the single due to take medication, even optimal treatment, the authors report a Japanese study published in the specialized "Chest" magazine. Taking care of people suffering from allergic asthma advocates eviction factor directly responsible for the problems. Thus, patients sensitized to allergens in secretions (saliva, sweat ...) or appendages (hair, feathers ...) their pet usually being advised to separate from their partner to reduce their exposure to substance that triggers their symptoms, recall Dr. Toshihiro Shirai, General Hospital Fujinomiya, and colleagues. However, only few studies have attempted to objectively assess the impact of such a measure on the symptoms of asthma, are they.

To clarify this point, the Japanese researchers have observed the impact of maintaining the home or starting a pet on lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and consumption of drugs symptomatic patients sensitized to animal allergens, from receive a diagnosis of allergic asthma

Half of the twenty participants (owners of cats, dogs, ferrets or hamster) has agreed to follow the recommendations of their doctor and be separated from their pet, while the other ten patients refused to do so. Their therapeutic management, adapted to the degree of severity of their disabilities, met the international recommendations of the Global Initiative for asthma (Gina).

A year later, the researchers found that the reduction of bronchial hyperresponsiveness of patients was more significant in the group of participants who agreed to remove their pet. This parameter is evaluated through a bronchial provocation test, which involves inhaling increasing doses of a bronchoconstrictor product. Bronchial asthma, more sensitive, close faster than those of a healthy person and the diagnosis of asthma is confirmed if, after inhaling the product, bronchi close more than 20% compared to the initial value (which is characterized by a 20% reduction in forced expiratory volume in one second, or FEV).

Thus, after a year, the amount of bronchoconstrictor required to cause such a closure of the bronchi has been multiplied by 5.9 for asthma is being separated from their pet, while it has increased by 2.3 in patients who refused to be resolved in the process.

In addition, none of the patients who followed the instructions of removal of the pet did not need treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, whereas such treatment had to be established for nine of the ten patients are still exposed to animal allergens. The frequency of follow-up visits also showed greater for patients in this second group.

So it seems that to part with their pet helps people with allergic asthma to experience more favorable to their state that they simply follow the pharmacological treatment recommended by current guidelines, the authors conclude. However, given the methodological limitations of this study, these results should be considered as preliminary data, they warn asking the achievement of other more extensive and rigorous analysis.