Oral Administration of Grass Pollen to Hay Fever Patients

Abstract

Oral hyposensitization is still widely used in the treatment of allergic diseases, but controlled studies proving a beneficial effect are lacking. Fifty-eight hay fever patients were admitted to a double-blind placebo efficacy study in oral hyposensitization. An enterosoluble tablet containing timothy whole pollen or placebo was taken daily. Preseasonally, the actively treated patients received 4,315,000 PNU (880,260 AUR) and totally for 6 months 8,915,000 PNU (1,818,660 AUR). Such high doses have never been tried in similar studies. A new principle has been used - "the pollen count interval method" - in the evaluation of symptom and medication score. The study failed to prove any beneficial effect of oral hyposensitization measured by symptom score, medication score, nasal provocation test or skin prick test. There was no change in timothy specific IgE and IgG which could be caused by the treatment. The possibility that oral hyposensitization might be an effective treatment of hay fever in the future is discussed, but it is concluded that the present regimens cannot be recommended.