IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH ALPARE(TM) IN PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY ALLERGY TOPARIETARIA POLLEN - A 2-YEAR DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Allergy to Parietaria judaica pollen causes significant morbidity in m any areas of the world. In addition to rhinitis, patients who are alle rgic to this pollen have a high incidence of asthma. The pollinating s eason is long, making this particular allergy challenging for clinicia ns to treat. This study was designed to determine if immunotherapy wit h an alum adsorbed partially purified Parietaria extract (Alpare Parie taria) containing a targeted maintenance dose of 12500 BUs was effecti ve in decreasing rhinitis symptoms in patients allergic to Parietaria. Using a double-blind placebo-controlled technique 36 patients receive d placebo or active extract for 2 years. Twenty (11 placebo and nine a ctive) completed the 2 year study. Efficacy of treatment was evaluated by determining changes in skin reactivity, visual analog scores, diar y symptom scores and end of study assessments. Reactions were monitore d as well. Skin-test suppression was marginally significant in the act ively treated group after 1 year and showed even more significant supp ression after the second year. Nasal block, rhinorrhoea and sneezing a ll were significantly decreased in the active group. The nasal provoca tion test did not show a significant change after I year, in either gr oup, but after 2 years of treatment the active group did show signific ant improvement. Although almost all patients in the actively treated group experienced local reactions, the incidence of systemic reactions was not different between the two groups, In conclusion, immunotherap y with this extract at this dose was effective in ameliorated rhinitis symptoms in patients allergic to Parietaria judaica.