Local nasal immunotherapy: efficacy and tolerability of two different administration schedules in grass pollen rhinitis.

BACKGROUND Efficacy and safety of local nasal immunotherapy has been demonstrated by many placebo-controlled clinical trials. The treatment schedule consists of an induction phase at increasing dosages followed by a maintenance phase. Aim of present study has been to evaluate a new simplified treatment schedule at constant dosage. METHODS AND RESULTS 26 grass-allergic rhinitic patients have been treated according to the new constant dosage schedule, while 15 patients in a control group were treated with conventional incremental dosage schedule. A commercial preparation of allergens incorporated into powder (Allerkin). The total cumulative dosage administered with conventional schedule resulted higher than simplified constant schedule (5,025 vs 3,000 AU). To evaluate efficacy, symptom and rescue medication scores were recorded during the spring pollen season, and a subjective overall evaluation was asked to the patients at the end of the season. The analysis of scores showed that the two treatment schedules were equivalent as regards both efficacy and safety, being side effects light and restricted to the administration site (sneezing). CONCLUSIONS The use of a constant dosage schedules is suggested for the administration of local nasal immunotherapy, having as advantage a better simplicity. Avoidance of mistakes in dosages is considered important in a therapy which is self-administered by patients.