title: Enzyme potentiated desensitisation in treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: double blind randomised controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of enzyme potentiated desensitisation in the treatment of severe summer hay fever poorly controlled by pharmacotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double blind randomised placebo controlled parallel group study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital in Hampshire.
  
  
  METHODS
  183 participants aged between 18 and 64 with a history of severe summer hay fever for at least two years; all were skin prick test positive to timothy grass pollen. 90 randomised to active treatment; 93 randomised to placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Active treatment: two injections of enzyme potentiated desensitisation, given between eight and 11 weeks apart, each comprising 200 Fishman units of beta glucuronidase, 50 pg 1,3-cyclohexanediol, 50 ng protamine sulphate, and a mixed inhaled allergen extract (pollen mixes for trees, grasses, and weeds; allergenic fungal spores; cat and dog danders; dust and storage mites) in a total volume of 0.05 ml of buffered saline. Placebo: two injections of 0.05 ml buffered saline solution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proportion of problem-free days; global rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life scores assessed weekly during pollen season.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The active treatment group and the placebo group did not differ in the proportion of problem-free days, quality of life scores, symptom severity scores, change in quantitative skin prick provocation threshold, or change in conjunctival provocation threshold. No clinically significant adverse reactions occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enzyme potentiated desensitisation showed no treatment effect in this study.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Infection Inflammation and Repair Research Division, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD. michael@radcliffe.net
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Lewith
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Holgate
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011479:Protamines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011788:Quality of Life; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000628:therapy*; D012882:Skin Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D011479:Protamines; C007192:cyclohexane-1,3-diol; D005966:Glucuronidase