title: Immunotherapy with an aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed Juniperus ashei foreign pollen extract in seasonal indigenous cypress pollen rhinoconjunctivitis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of standardized Juniperus ashei extract was assessed in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis due to European cypress pollens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty adults with European cypress-allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were randomized to receive immunotherapy or a matched placebo. Specific immunotherapy was performed with a standardized, aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed J. ashei extract with a potency of 100 IR (arbitrary index of reactivity) containing 54 microg of Jun a 1/ml (Alustal, Stallergenes, France). Subcutaneous injections started in October 2000. The maintenance dose was 0.30 ml of the 100-IR concentration per month. Rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptoms were rated according to a 4-point score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients from the treated group and 15 patients from the placebo group completed year 2001; 14 in each group completed year 2002. A statistically significant improvement (41%, p < 0.02) in the conjunctivitis symptom score was observed in actively treated patients compared to the placebo group at the peak of the 2001 pollen season. Improvement in rhinitis (17%) was not significant. This significant improvement was greater at the peak of the 2002 pollen season (63%, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study therefore indirectly validates the concept of treatment by major allergen because J. ashei is absent from the region in which this study was conducted.
authors.affiliation: Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charpin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gouitaa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dron-Gonzalvez
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fardeau
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Massabie-Bouchat
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hugues
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vivinus
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pegliasco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: André
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029781:Cupressus / Q000276:immunology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D018653:Juniperus / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide