Immunotherapy with an aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed Juniperus ashei foreign pollen extract in seasonal indigenous cypress pollen rhinoconjunctivitis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
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.
Charpin
D
D
Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France.
Gouitaa
M
M
Dron-Gonzalvez
M
M
Fardeau
M F
MF
Massabie-Bouchat
Y P
YP
Hugues
B
B
Fabre
C
C
Vivinus
S
S
Pegliasco
H
H
André
C
C
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
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide