Quality of life analysis of patients undergoing immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis has been conservatively estimated to affect 35 million Americans, with an annual US expenditure of more than $2 billion for treatment. Immunotherapy is generally administered to patients with allergic rhinitis when avoidance is impossible or impractical, when pharmacotherapy provides insufficient relief, and/or symptoms span more than one season. Immunotherapy based on quantified testing (e.g., dilutional intradermal testing [SET] or in vitro methods [RAST, ELISA]) allows administration of antigens in a manner that achieves therapeutic antigen doses more rapidly, yet more safely than immunotherapy administered through a schedule that mixes all antigens at the same concentration and advances on an empirical basis. Sixty patients who received at least one year of quantified testing-based immunotherapy were evaluated using a quality of life questionnaire and individual interviews. Changes in physical, social and emotional well-being were determined. Also investigated were changes in productivity and medication usage. The majority of patients noted significant improvement in all areas within four to six months of initiating immunotherapy, and an overwhelming majority felt that such treatment represented a worthwhile investment of their time and money.