Evaluation of immunotherapy by nasal antigen challenge

Background: Nasal antigen challenge test is used to evaluate the allergic c onditions within different diagnostic procedures. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of immunothera py (IT) in an objective and simple way in children with perennial allergic rhinitis. Method: This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure. Ninete en patients (mean age 10 +/- 6 years) were treated only with IT and 17 pati ents (mean age 11 +/- 5 years) constituted the control group without any tr eatment. The patients were evaluated at the beginning and at 3 and 6 months of IT. Nasal provocation reactions were evaluated and scored at 5-, 10-, 1 5-, and 30-minute intervals. Results: In the IT group, mean clinical scores and mean nasal provocation s cores decreased significantly between the initial value and at 3 and 6 mont hs of IT, whereas there was no significant change in the value for the cont rol group. There were no significant differences among the 5-, 10-, 15-, an d 30-minute evaluations within both the IT and control groups. Conclusion: The efficacy of IT in perennial allergic rhinitis may be assess ed by the nasal antigen challenge test in a simple and objective way within a 5-minute period.