The effect of short-term immunotherapy with molecular standardized grass and rye allergens on eosinophil cationic protein and tryptase in nasal secretions.

Activation of mast cells and eosinophils under pollen exposure can be inhibited by specific immunotherapy.The effect of short-term immunotherapy with 7 preseasonal injections of molecular standardized allergens from grass and rye pollen on eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and tryptase levels in nasal secretions has been compared with symptomatic drug treatment in an open, randomized study with 48 patients.Nasal reactivity and mediator levels in nasal secretions were measured at baseline, before season, in season, and after season.Symptom scores in the immunotherapy group were 134.5 (95% CI, 65 to 336) versus 386. 0 (95% CI, 185 to 563), significantly lower as in the drug-treated group. ECP…