Surgeon to the Wills Eye Hospital; Professor in Ophthalmology at the Polyclinic Hospital. PHILADELPHIA. In order that the body may properly perform its functions and all the organs act in harmony, a certain
Thirty-two patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to weed pollen were treated beginning prior to the weed pollen season of 1974 with either 4/^ cromolyn sodium or placebo nasal spray. The patients were followed on treatment with symptom diary cards and bi-weekly physician examinations for a period of 10 weeks. Radioallergosorbent (RAST) titres for the major weeds in the Denver area (ragweed, Russian thistle, and sage) were determined before the weed pollen season, and one and three months after the weed pollen season.There was no significant difference in symptom scores between the 4% cromolyn sodium-and placebo-treated groups, nor objective evidence on bi-weekly examinations by a physician to suggest differences in the two groups. Significant differences in favor of the 4% cromolyn-treaicd group were noted in the amount of antihistamines taken for symptomatic relief during the weed pollenating season, suggesting some protective effect ofthe drug. The clinical significance of this finding is not clear. Selecting patients with high baseline RAST titres for one or more of the major weeds did not alter the results of the study.In a second double-blind study twenty-two patients reporting to the allergy clinic with symptomatic seasonal allergic rhinitis due to weeds were randomly assigned to receive 4% cromolyn sodium or placebo nasal spray and followed through the weed pollen season. There was no difference between the two groups in either symptom scores or use of antihistamines for asymptomatic relief.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.