Local nasal immunotherapy with extract in powder form is effective and safe in grass pollen rhinitis: a double-blind study.
BACKGROUND
Local nasal immunotherapy has been studied, by means of an extract in powder form, in patients with allergic rhinitis caused by grass pollen.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients allergic to grass were studied for 37 weeks in a double-blind controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive history, skin test result, RAST finding, and result of intranasal challenge to grass pollen. Two 16-patient groups were randomly assigned to active or placebo treatment. The treatment lasted 26 weeks (14 for the build-up phase, 12 for the maintenance period).


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed in nasal symptoms during the treatment. During the pollen season the mean weekly symptom and medication scores were significantly lower in the treated group, compared with the control group, even considering each allergic symptom separately. Moreover, only in the treated group was a significant increase of specific nasal threshold to grass pollen observed after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that local nasal immunotherapy with allergen in powder form can be a suitable alternative to the traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy in terms of clinical efficacy and safety in grass-allergic rhinitis.
Andri
L
L
Unit of Clinical Allergology, Verona General Hospital, Italy.
Senna
G
G
Betteli
C
C
Givanni
S
S
Andri
G
G
Dimitri
G
G
Falagiani
P
P
Mezzelani
P
P
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens