Abstract: 　AIM: To make a retrieval investigation of safety in using Dermatophagoides farinae extract in diagnosis and immunotherapy with patients of asthma and rhinitis.METHODS: A questionnaire evaluation of the safety use of D farinae extract ( SMU Df) during diagnosis and immunotherapy of patients from 1974 to 1995 was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 846 342 injections were statistically analysed,among whom 142 systemic adverse reactions occurred involving urticaria 0.82, severe attack of asthma 0 77, anaphylactic shock 0 07 (CL=1.4～12 0/million), and angioedema 0 02. The time of onset of systemic reactions of immediate type was <30 min in 32 cases times, and 1 h and 2 h in 6 cases times; the time to onset of late response type was 3 h～48 h in 23 cases times with highest incidence of severe asthmatic attacks. The systemic reactions occurred in 18 subjects during skin test, in 96 cases times during increasing dose phase, and in 14 cases times during. Among them 6 cases were of anaphylactic shock, and none of it after emergency treatment. The major cause of manifestation of systemic reactions for 41 cases after immunotherapy with SMU Df extract was due to over dosage errors. CONCLUSION: The application of SMU Df extract in skin test and immunotherapy of asthma and rhinitis sensitive to mite for the past 22 years in this country indicated that the efficacy and safety have been high.

Key words: Dermatophagoides farinae, allergen, asthma, rhinitis, diagnosis, immunotherapy, safety