Page 1019 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition

drug used to treat anaphylaxis. It is rapidly absorbed following
VetBooks.ir intramuscular injection and thus can rapidly reverse the clinical

signs of shock. Another group of drugs widely employed in the
treatment of type I hypersensitivity reactions are the specific

pharmacological inhibitors. These drugs, by mimicking the
structure of the active mediators, competitively block specific
receptors. Thus H1 antihistamines such as diphenhydramine can
effectively inhibit the activities of histamine. However, since

histamine is but one of a large number of mast cell–derived
mediators, and its levels do not correlate well with skin disease
severity, antihistamines are of limited effectiveness in controlling
allergic diseases in animals.

A multifaceted approach has been recommended for the
treatment of AD. Thus any bacterial or yeast infections must be
treated. Acute flares may be treated with a combination of skin
baths and topical corticosteroids, with oral corticosteroids and

antibiotics as needed. Skin hygiene should be improved as much as
possible. The severity of the pruritus may be reduced with
combinations of antiinflammatory drugs. Treatment of chronic
pruritus and skin lesions include oral and topical corticosteroids,

oral cyclosporine, and topical tacrolimus, in addition to oclacitinib
and possibly oral interferons. Allergen-specific immunotherapy
should be offered when feasible.

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy

Allergies may be controlled by allergen-specific immunotherapy.
This involves administering gradually increasing quantities of an
allergen to the animal in order to reduce the severity of subsequent
allergic disease. Multiple controlled studies have shown that this

therapy is effective in humans. It appears to be most effective for
the treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, and allergies to
insect stings. Its effectiveness is less clear in the treatment of food

allergies and allergic dermatitis. In veterinary medicine, multiple
open studies have suggested that this therapy is effective in the
treatment of AD, although few randomized controlled trials have
been published.
Immunotherapy injections promote IgG rather than IgE

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