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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma

A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma

Published on: June 4, 2017

Systemic reactions occurring during immunotherapy with standardized pollen extracts.

A Hejjaoui¹, R Ferrando, H Dhivert

¹Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Montpellier, France.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

|May 1, 1992

Summary

Rush immunotherapy protocols for pollen allergies can cause systemic reactions (SRs). Premedication significantly reduced SRs during rush immunotherapy, especially when dose escalations were paused due to local reactions.

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Area of Science:

Allergy and Immunology
Clinical Medicine
Pharmacology

Background:

Specific immunotherapy (SI) using standardized pollen extracts can lead to systemic reactions (SRs).
Rush immunotherapy protocols, while efficient, may increase the risk of SRs.
Asthma and multiple pollen allergies are potential risk factors for adverse reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare SR incidence between 3-day rush and step immunotherapy protocols.
To identify if asthma or multiple pollen allergies increase SR risk.
To evaluate methods for decreasing SRs during rush immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

A prospective study of 454 pollen-allergic patients (ages 5-62) receiving standardized orchard grass, Parietaria, olive, or plane-tree pollen extracts.
Comparison of SRs between rush and step protocols, with varying doses (1000-2000 BU) based on age and sensitivity.
Monitoring of SRs, including premedication and dose adjustment strategies.

Main Results:

The incidence of SRs per patient ranged from 2.6% to 31.1%.
Premedication significantly decreased SRs in the rush protocol (p < 0.015).
Stopping dose escalation upon large local reactions further reduced severe SRs. Step protocol showed only slight tolerance improvement over rush. Bronchial reactions were more frequent in patients with prior asthma.

Conclusions:

Premedication is effective in reducing systemic reactions during rush immunotherapy for pollen allergies.
Careful dose adjustment, pausing escalations for local reactions, can further mitigate severe SRs.
Patients with asthma history require careful monitoring for bronchial adverse reactions during immunotherapy.