In vivo and in vitro immunological changes induced by a short course of grass allergy immunotherapy tablets

Background: the fast-dissolving grass allergy immunotherapy tablet (grass ait),grazax,has proven effective in grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis. objective: to investigate the immunological and cutaneous changes induced after a short course with grass ait. methods: we performed a randomized,double-blind placebo-controlled trial with 78 patients randomly assigned to receive either grass ait or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. treatment lasted at least 8 weeks before the grass pollen season (gps),and continued until the season finished. specific immunoglobulin (ig) g4,ige,and ige-blocking factor to phleum pratense were measured at the beginning of the trial and at different intervals during treatment. immediate and delayed skin tests with p pratense were also performed. safety endpoints were defi ned in terms of adverse events reported. results: a total of 75 patients completed the trial (50 active and 25 placebo). p pratense igg4,ige,and ige-blocking factor in actively treated patients increased significantly from baseline to the start of the gps compared to placebo (p>.001,p=.017,and p=.005,respectively) the immediate cutaneous response was reduced during therapy in actively treated subjects,whereas placebo-treated subjects showed a decrease only after the start of the gps. the delayed response to the intradermal test in grass ait-treated subjects diminished,although not in a significantly different way from the placebo-treated subjects. conclusion: treatment with grass ait for grass pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis induces immunological changes after only 1 month of treatment. © 2010 esmon publicidad.