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Sustained effect of SQ‐standardized grass allergy immunotherapy tablet on rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life
Author(s) -
Frølund L.,
Durham S. R.,
Calderon M.,
Emminger W.,
Andersen J. S.,
Rask P.,
Dahl R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02238.x
Subject(s) - phleum , medicine , allergy , placebo , quality of life (healthcare) , randomized controlled trial , pollen , immunology , botany , biology , nursing , alternative medicine , pathology
To cite this article: Frølund L, Durham SR, Calderon M, Emminger W, Andersen JS, Rask P, Dahl R. Sustained effect of SQ‐standardized grass allergy immunotherapy tablet on rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life. Allergy 2010; 65 : 753–757. Abstract Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis has increased significantly over the past decades with grass pollen being a common trigger. The impact of allergy on patient’s quality of life is substantial. Aim: To investigate the sustained effect on quality of life during the grass pollen season 1 year after 3 years of treatment with the SQ‐standardized grass allergy immunotherapy tablet (AIT), Grazax ® ( Phleum pratense 75,000 SQ‐T/2800 BAU; ALK, Denmark). Methods: The trial was a randomized, parallel‐group, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in adult subjects with a history of moderate‐severe grass pollen induced rhinoconjunctivitis inadequately controlled by symptomatic medications. Subjects received 3 years of grass AIT ( n = 157) or placebo ( n = 126), followed by 1 year of follow‐up. Quality of life assessments were based on the standardized rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ(S)); completed weekly during the entire grass pollen season. Results: During follow‐up, the overall RQLQ(S) score for the entire grass pollen season was significantly improved in the active group (relative difference to placebo: 23%, P = 0.004). The improvement was higher during the peak pollen season (28%, P = 0.001). The treatment effect of grass AIT during the follow‐up year and the previous three treatment years was similar. Improvements were found in all seven RQLQ(S) domains. The RQLQ(S) as a function of the weekly average pollen counts showed a clear separation between the treatment groups ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: In subjects inadequately controlled by symptomatic medications, grass AIT provided sustained and clinically relevant improvements in rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life compared to placebo. The effect increased with increasing grass pollen exposure.