Short-term preseasonal birch pollen allergoid immunotherapy influences symptoms, specific nasal provocation and cytokine levels in nasal secretions, …

1999

Backround Birch pollen allergic rhinitis can be sufficiently treated with specific subcutaneous allergoid immunotherapy (IT). However, little is known about the clinical and immunological effects of short-term therapy protocols. Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of a birch pollen allergoid IT using seven preseasonal injections and to evaluate immunological parameters that might explain clinical findings. Methods Thirty-seven patients were included into the study and randomized to either a symptomatic treatment or allergoid IT plus symptomatic treatment. Patients were examined during the pre-IT season, at two extraseasonal visits both before and after IT and during the post-IT s…