Immunotherapy with keyhole lampet hemocyanin-conjugated decapeptide vaccine in cypress pollen allergy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cupressaceae pollen allergy is a world-wide pollinosis but immunotherapy has rarely been tested. Immunotherapy is usually allergen-specific but new forms may be targeted towards IgE.

OBJECTIVES:

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to assess the efficacy of a vaccine made of keyhole lampet hemocyanin (KLH)-conjugated decapeptide from the Fc(epsilon4) domain of the IgE in cypress pollinosis.

METHODS:

Sixty patients with cypress pollen allergy were studied. They were included on a suggestive clinical history, positive skin tests and nasal challenge to cypress pollen extract. Three intramuscular injections of the vaccine (250 microg) or placebo were administered monthly with a booster injection 5 to 8 weeks later. The primary end-point criterion was the threshold dose inducing a positive nasal challenge. The secondary end-point was the symptom-medication scores measured when cypress pollen grains were over 50 grains/m3.

RESULTS:

Nasal challenge before treatment was non-significantly different between the placebo and vaccine groups. After treatment there was no significant difference between the two groups. Pollen counts were over 50 grains/m3 for 8 weeks during the trial. There was no significant difference in total symptom scores between the placebo and vaccine groups. The vaccine was safe.

CONCLUSIONS:

The KLH-conjugated decapeptide vaccine was not effective in cypress pollen allergy.

• Authors: P Demoly, L Persi, H Dhivert, M Delire, J Bousquet
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 32 Issue 7 Pg. 1071-6 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 0954-7894 [Print] England
• PMID: 12100056 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin G
• Oligopeptides
• Vaccines
• Immunoglobulin E
• Hemocyanins
• keyhole-limpet hemocyanin

Topics

• Adult
• Cupressus (immunology)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Hemocyanins (immunology)
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (therapy)
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oligopeptides (immunology)
• Vaccines (adverse effects, immunology)