title: Oral immunotherapy in birch pollen hay fever.
abstract: Previous controlled trials with oral administration of allergen have not demonstrated any treatment effect in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma. In the present double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we have tested the effect of oral immunotherapy in adult patients with birch pollinosis. Thirty-nine patients completed this 18-month study comprising two birch pollen seasons. The patients received enterosoluble capsules daily, and the actively treated patients reached a cumulated dose of 280 times 10(6) biologic units of birch pollen extract, which is about 200 times higher than the dose used in conventional subcutaneous immunotherapy. We found a significant decrease in eye symptom scores and conjunctival sensitivity to birch pollen, as determined by conjunctival provocation test, as well as a numerical but nonsignificant decrease in nasal symptom scores, nasal sensitivity as determined by nasal provocation test, and antiallergic medication. The treatment was safe, and only a few slight side effects were observed. We thus conclude that our study demonstrates a clinical effect of oral immunotherapy in birch pollinosis.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taudorf
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björksten
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dreborg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Søborg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weeke
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000473:pathology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000628:therapy*; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens