Enzyme potentiated desensitisation in treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: double blind randomised controlled study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of enzyme potentiated desensitisation in the treatment of severe summer hay fever poorly controlled by pharmacotherapy.

DESIGN:

Double blind randomised placebo controlled parallel group study.

SETTING:

Hospital in Hampshire.

PARTICIPANTS:

183 participants aged between 18 and 64 with a history of severe summer hay fever for at least two years; all were skin prick test positive to timothy grass pollen. 90 randomised to active treatment; 93 randomised to placebo.

INTERVENTIONS:

Active treatment: two injections of enzyme potentiated desensitisation, given between eight and 11 weeks apart, each comprising 200 Fishman units of beta glucuronidase, 50 pg 1,3-cyclohexanediol, 50 ng protamine sulphate, and a mixed inhaled allergen extract (pollen mixes for trees, grasses, and weeds; allergenic fungal spores; cat and dog danders; dust and storage mites) in a total volume of 0.05 ml of buffered saline. Placebo: two injections of 0.05 ml buffered saline solution.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Proportion of problem-free days; global rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life scores assessed weekly during pollen season.

RESULTS:

The active treatment group and the placebo group did not differ in the proportion of problem-free days, quality of life scores, symptom severity scores, change in quantitative skin prick provocation threshold, or change in conjunctival provocation threshold. No clinically significant adverse reactions occurred.

CONCLUSIONS:

Enzyme potentiated desensitisation showed no treatment effect in this study.

• Authors: Michael J Radcliffe, George T Lewith, Richard G Turner, Philip Prescott, Martin K Church, Stephen T Holgate
• Journal: BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (BMJ) Vol. 327 Issue 7409 Pg. 251-4 (Aug 02 2003) ISSN: 1756-1833 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 12896934 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Cyclohexanols
• Protamines
• cyclohexane-1,3-diol
• Glucuronidase

Topics

• Adult
• Allergens (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Cyclohexanols (administration & dosage)
• Desensitization, Immunologic (methods)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Glucuronidase (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Injections, Intradermal
• Male
• Poaceae (immunology)
• Pollen (immunology)
• Protamines (administration & dosage)
• Quality of Life
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (therapy)
• Skin Tests
• Treatment Outcome