[Efficacy and safety of cluster immunotherapy for 154 patients with allergic rhinitis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cluster immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus for allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-four patients with allergic rhinitis to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were allocated to receive specific immunotherapy in a 6-week cluster schedule during the incremental-dose phase. Thereafter, these patients received maintenance-dose injection at 6-week intervals until the end of 1 year of treatment. Symptom scores and medication scores were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were recorded. A rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) was completed in the baseline and after one year treatment.


RESULTS
Cluster immunotherapy significantly reduced the symptom scores and total medication score of patients enrolled (P < 0.01). The immunotherapy group also had a significant improvement in the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire. During the one-year of treatment, there were 26 systemic adverse reactions (0.75% of all injection) in 9 patients (5.9%) and no fatal systemic reactions occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The cluster immunotherapy is efficacious and safe to treat allergic rhinitis.
Zhang
Luo
L
Beijing Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China. luozhang@trhos.com
Wang
Cheng-Shuo
CS
Wang
Xiang-Dong
XD
Zhao
Yan
Y
Liu
Jian-Hui
JH
Zhang
Wei
W
Zhou
Bing
B
Han
De-Min
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides