Allergic Patients

RATIONALE: Crustaceans, such as shrimp, crab, crayfish and lobster, play important role in human nutrition; they also can be important causes of severe acute hypersensitivity reactions. For pa-tients diagnosed with a crustacean allergy, strict avoidance is the only proven therapy, highlight-ing the need for more specific treatment. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of sublingual shrimp immunotherapy in Egyptian patients allergic to shrimp. METHODS: This study was intended to help in diagnosis of shrimps allergen in 60 allergic patients (subdivided to 3 groups Urticaria (G1), rhinitis (G2) & asthma (G3)) and evaluate the sublingual immunotherapy by employing skin prick test, specific Immunoglobulin E, Total Immunoglobulin E, Immunoglobulin G, Eosinophilis and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), before and after therapy. Inclusion criteria were a history of shrimp allergy and positive skin prick test to crude shrimp extract from two spe-cies [Penaeus semisulcatus and Metapenaeus stebbingi] at allergy and clinical immunology unit, in-Shams Hospitals. They underwent immunotherapy with extract of shrimp species and adminis