[Lowered effectiveness of immunotherapy for cypress pollinosis by using Japanese cedar pollen extract].
BACKGROUND
Japanese cedar and cypress pollen share a common antigen. The cedar pollen season is followed by the cypress pollen season. However, both the clinical significance and involvement of cypress pollinosis in the treatment of the cedar pollinosis have not yet been clarified.


METHODS
The clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with cedar pollen extract for cedar pollinosis was evaluated during the cypress pollen dispersal season in Japan. In addition, the change in cypress pollen specific IgE antibodies of the patients with cedar pollinosis was examined before and after the pollen season.


RESULTS
Sublingual immunotherapy with cedar pollen extract did not improve the clinical symptoms of the cedar pollinosis patients combined with cypress pollinosis in the cypress pollen season. The cypress pollen specific IgE antibodies were found to demonstrate significant seasonal changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of cypress pollinosis should therefore be taken into consideration when planning the optimal treatment for cedar pollinosis. Sublingual immunotherapy with cedar pollen extract may not be effective for cypress pollinosis.
Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University.
Shigetoshi
S
Horiguchi
Yoshitaka
Y
Okamoto
Shuji
S
Yonekura
Toru
T
Okawa
Naoki
N
Kunii
Heizaburo
H
Yamamoto
Daiju
D
Sakurai
Toyoyuki
T
Hanazawa
D000328:Adult; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology*; D029781:Cupressus / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012621:Seasons
D052179:Antigens, Plant; D010936:Plant Extracts