title: Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with a once-daily SQ-standardized grass allergy immunotherapy tablet.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Specific immunotherapy with the grass allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT) has been developed as an effective, well tolerated, and convenient treatment for grass pollen induced seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). Six phase II/III randomized, placebo-controlled trials with the duration of a single grass pollen season of treatment using the SQ-standardized grass AIT, Grazax (Phleum pratense, 75,000 SQ-T/2,800 BAU, ALK, Denmark), have been published previously. This review compares results from these trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  As outcome measures and methods of assessing them were similar across the trials, we have summarized the main efficacy findings (Total Combined Score [TCS], average daily rhinoconjunctivitis symptom and medication scores, percentage of well days, quality of life scores) during a single season of treatment with grass AIT in adults and children with seasonal ARC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the European and North American trials were similar. Compared with the placebo group, who received symptomatic medications only, treatment with grass AIT resulted in fewer rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms, a lower intake of symptomatic medication, better patient self-rated quality of life and a greater percentage of well days during the entire grass pollen season. The data indicate that grass AIT treatment is equally effective in adults and children; the measured effect varies with pollen exposure, but is comparable across regions and continents, with a consistent difference compared with placebo in TCS that was above 20% for all trials. Local adverse events were experienced by the majority of patients. These reactions were generally mild to moderate in severity and transient in duration. Systemic adverse events were rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review confirms SQ-standardized grass AIT as a suitable therapeutic option for seasonal use in patients aged 5 years or older with grass pollen induced ARC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, National Jewish Health Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. nelsonh@njhealth.org
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Lucine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Blaiss
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012015:Reference Standards; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013607:Tablets / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; C551013:Grazax; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013607:Tablets