cat hair extract

Cat hair extract is a standardized allergenic extract used in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) for the diagnosis and treatment of cat allergies. [13, 16] The allergy is not to the hair itself, but to proteins found in the cat's saliva, dander (skin flakes), and sebaceous glands, the most significant of which is Fel d 1. [2, 6, 18] This primary allergen is transferred to the fur during grooming and then shed into the environment. [6] AIT, administered either as subcutaneous injections (allergy shots) or sublingual drops/tablets (SLIT), works by gradually exposing the patient's immune system to increasing doses of the cat allergen. [1, 10] This desensitization process aims to shift the immune response from a Th2-driven, IgE-mediated allergic reaction towards a state of tolerance, characterized by the production of protective antibodies like IgG4 and the induction of regulatory T cells. [1, 7] This modulation reduces the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma upon subsequent exposure to cats. [1, 10, 13] Clinical studies have shown that this therapy can be effective, but requires long-term commitment. [1, 9]

Other names

cat allergen extractstandardized cat dander extractFel d 1