Grass Pollen Hyposensitization versus Placebo Therapy

Abstract

The present work reports the results of a double-blind clinical trial, comparing the effects of hyposensitization treatment versus placebo in 33 patients with allergic rhinitis, sensitive to a crude extract of the pollen of four different grasses (Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, Secale cereale, and Phleum pratense). The distribution of these patients in the two groups was done randomly and gave two comparable groups, as far as clinical and biological features are concerned. The treatment course included five low doses of the aqueous extract followed by 12 injections of Al(OH)3-adsorbed aliquots of the same extract. Evaluation of the clinical scores was based on diary cards on which symptoms and medications were recorded. A reevaluation of the significance of the symptom and medication scores is presented and the link between both scores is studied. Particular attention is given to the methodological and statistical problems raised during this study. The non-parametric tests reveal a significant difference (P less or equal to than 0.03) in the total clinical score between the treated and the placebo groups for the second half of the observation period, when the pathology was most intense.

Diagnosis and Immunotherapy of Mould Allergy

“…The relative role of improvement in symptom score and reduction in antiallergic medication in evaluating the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy might be questioned (27,28). In the present study we have evaluated semiquantitative changes in both symptom score (asthma + peak flow) and medication consumption without demonstrating a significant difference between placebo and Cladosporium treated patients.…”

Comparative safety and efficacy of short ragweed extracts differing in potency and composition in the treatment of fall hay fever

“…Other investigators have noted that IgG antibody response is not associated with efficacy. A review of IgG literature by Reisman (30) and active (28,45,48) and passive (49) immunization studies indicates that many studies fail to find association between levels of specific IgG and efficacy. Several studies also report patients with absent specific IgG antibody following immunization, but clinical protection is present (14,48).…”

Tratamiento de la rinitis alérgica en pediatría en Argentina. Documento de actualización

“…96,98 Ambas se asocian con reducción en los síntomas y el uso de medicamentos en los niños que sufren RA estacional moderada a severa. 96,98,124,125,129,130,131,132,133,134 La fuerza de la evidencia es alta en pacientes adultos, pero moderada en pacientes pediátricos por falta de datos. 96,98 Respecto a la RA perenne debida a ácaros del polvo doméstico, existe evidencia de la eficacia de la IT continua (tanto ITSC como ITSL, esta última en forma de tableta pero no en solución acuosa).…”