[Evaluation of effectiveness and safety of three year immunotherapy with mixed grass pollen allergens]

Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is probably the only causative treatment in allergic diseases including pollinosis. It is capable of changing the natural history of the disease.

Present study has been designed to estimate the effectiveness and safety of multi-seasonal immunotherapy with grass-pollen-allergoid-containing vaccines.

Twenty seven patients with pollinosis entered the study. They were randomly assigned to two groups receiving two different but absolutely comparable vaccines (Allergovit, Pollinex). Cards of patient's self-evaluation (including nasal, eye and bronchial symptoms) as well as anti-allergic drug consumption were evaluated.

Significant amelioration of symptoms was noticed already after first season of SIT 3.4 +/- 0.29 vs 7.54 +/- 0.35 points before SIT (control)(p < 0.05). The respective value after third SIT was 2.1 +/- 0.26 (p < 0.001). Also anti-allergic drug consumption felt from 2.12 +/- 0.12 points before SIT to 0.86 +/- 0.11 and 0.37 +/- 0.11 after first and third SIT, respectively (p < 0.001 and p < 0.00005). Few side reactions were observed, only one mild systemic reaction.

Our study confirms that pre-seasonal SIT is a clinically effective and safe therapeutic method in patients with pollinosis. It's effect seems to be time-related.