The effect of Gencydo injections on hayfever symptoms: a therapeutic causality report.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to study the effect of Gencydo (Weleda AG, Arlesheim, Switzerland) injections on hayfever symptoms.


METHODS
This is a therapeutic causality report based on the practices of 13 Dutch general practitioners.


METHODS
Thirteen (13) patients with a mean history of hayfever with grass pollen allergy of 9 years duration, who in previous years used conventional hayfever medication because of the severity of symptoms during the pollen season.


METHODS
Gencydo injections were given in 12 patients before the onset of and during the grass pollen season, and in one patient during the grass pollen season only.


METHODS
Nasal and non-nasal hayfever symptom severity, use of rescue medication (antihistamines or corticosteroids), and subjective experiences of patients were used as outcome measures.


RESULTS
Nine (9) of 13 patients showed no increase of symptom severity during the so-called pollen season. Both the mean maximal total nasal symptom score per patient and the mean total nasal symptom score for the entire study group during the days with a grass pollen count >100 were mild. Percentages of individual "strong" or "severe" nasal symptom scores were low. There was no statistically significant difference in mean total nasal symptom score between the period when the pollen count was <100 and the period when it was >100. Conventional rescue medication for hayfever was used only eight times, all by one person. Nine (9) patients (69%) reported an improvement of symptoms (eight patients cited strong improvement and one patient noted slight improvement).


CONCLUSIONS
There are clear indications that Gencydo treatment was effective in a large subgroup of the research population.
Baars
Erik W
EW
Louis Bolk Instituut, Driebergen, The Netherlands. e.baars@louisbolk.nl
De Bruin
Anja
A
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C509896:Gencydo; D010936:Plant Extracts