Immunotherapy in respiratory allergy

Comparison between rush immunotherapy with a standardized allergen and an alum adjuved pyridine extracted material in grass pollen allergy

Rush immunotherapy with a standardized and lyophilized cocksfoot pollen extract was performed in twenty-three allergic subjects and compared with classical immunotherapy done with an alum adjuved, pyridine extracted cocksfoot pollen extract (fifteen subjects) and a control group of ten patients. The three groups were perfectly matched. Clinical benefits were analysed by means of symptom scores. It was shown that rush immunotherapy gave significantly better results when asthma or rhinitis was considered than either classical immunotherapy (P less than 0.02) or in the control group (P less than 0.01 and 0.02). Skin tests were significantly reduced after rush immunotherapy and did not change in the two other groups. After the pollen season the skin test reactivity was increased in the rush immunotherapy group. Cocksfoot pollen specific IgE did not vary significantly in the three groups. Cocksfoot pollen specific IgG was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased in the rush immunotherapy group before the pollen season and did not vary significantly in the other groups.

A comparison of the clinical and immunological effects of an alum-precipitated five-grass extract with a conjugated two-grass extract in the desensitization of hay fever

Thirty-nine patients with pollen hay fever were randomly allocated to receive either an alum-precipitated five-grass extract (Allpyral) or a two-grass conjugated extract (Conjuvac) prior to the 1982 pollen season. Efficacy was assessed by means of symptom scores, drug usage and specific IgE and IgG antibody response. Both nasal and eye symptom scores were significantly higher during the pollen season in those patients receiving Allpyral. Specific IgE and IgG measured after the pollen season showed similar rises in each group. Seven patients showed a marked elevation in specific IgE and nine a marked elevation in specific IgG, but no patient showed both. Those with a high specific IgE level tended to be younger. Symptom scores bore no relation to either specific IgE or IgG antibodies. Side-effects were mainly local and were equal in both groups.