Cited by 678Allergic Rhinitis and SensitizationFood Allergy and Anaphylaxis ResearchAsthma and respiratory diseases

Allergen injection immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis

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Calderon, Moises A, Alves, Bernadette, Jacobson, Mikila, Hurwitz, Brian, Sheikh, Aziz, Durham, Stephen·2007·Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is the most common of the allergic diseases. Despite improved understanding of the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis and advances in its pharmacological treatment, its prevalence has increased worldwide. For patients whose symptoms remain uncontrolled despite medical treatment, allergen injection immunotherapy is advised. An allergen-based treatment may reduce symptoms, the need for medication and modify the natural course of this disease. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous specific allergen immunotherapy, compared with placebo, for reducing symptoms and medication requirements in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1 2006), MEDLINE (1950 to 2006), EMBASE (1974 to 2006), Pre-MEDLINE, KOREAMED, INDMED, LILACS, PAKMEDINET, Scisearch, mRCT and the National Research Register. The date of the last search was February 2006. SELECTION CRITERIA: All studies identified by the searches were assessed to identify randomised controlled trials involving participants with symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and proven allergen sensitivity, treated with subcutaneous allergen specific immunotherapy or corresponding placebo. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent authors identified all studies reporting double-blind, placebo controlled randomised trials of specific immunotherapy in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to tree, grass or weed pollens. Two authors independently performed quality assessment of studies. Data from identified studies were abstracted onto a standard extraction sheet and subsequently entered into RevMan 4.2.8. Analysis was performed using the Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) method and a random-effects model; P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The primary outcome measures were symptom scores, medication use, quality of life and adverse events. MAIN RESULTS: We retrieved 1111 publications of which 51 satisfied our inclusion criteria. In total there were 2871 participants (1645 active, 1226 placebo), each receiving on average 18 injections. Duration of immunotherapy varied from three days to three years. Symptom score data from 15 trials were suitable for meta-analysis and showed an overall reduction in the immunotherapy group (SMD -0.73 (95% CI -0.97 to -0.50, P < 0.00001)). Medication score data from 13 trials showed an overall reduction in the immunotherapy group (SMD of -0.57 (95% CI -0.82 to -0.33, p<0.00001)). Clinical interpretation of the effect size is difficult. Adrenaline was given in 0.13% (19 of 14085 injections) of those on active treatment and in 0.01% (1 of 8278 injections) of the placebo group for treatment of adverse events. There were no fatalities. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review has shown that specific allergen injection immunotherapy in suitably selected patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis results in a significant reduction in symptom scores and medication use. Injection immunotherapy has a known and relatively low risk of severe adverse events. We found no long-term consequences from adverse events.

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  • Total symptom score is the main variable in systematic reviews and meta-analyses of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy.

    “Total symptom score is the main variable in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, both in SCIT [172] and in SLIT in drops [173] or in tablets [174]; therefore, specific data on NO are not usually published [171].”

    From Position Paper on Nasal Obstruction: Evaluation and Treatment (2018) · cites this paper as [172]

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. CSM 1986 Committee of the Safety of Medicine. CSM update: desensitizing vaccines. British Medical Journal 1986;293:948.
  2. CSM 1994 Committee of the Safety of Medicine. Desensitising vaccines: New advice. Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance 1994;20:5.
  3. Frew AJ. Injection immunotherapy. British Medical Journal 1993;307:919-23.
  4. Malling HJ, Weeke B. Immunotherapy. Position paper of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. Allergy 1993;48(14):9-35.

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Authors
Calderon, M. A., Alves, B., Jacobson, M., Hurwitz, B., Sheikh, A., & Durham, S.
Affiliations
  • Royal Brompton Hospital; Department of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine; Imperial College School of Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute London UK SW3 6LY
  • Brighton and Hove City Council (GB)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • Royal Brompton Hospital (GB)
Venue
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-01-24
Volume
2009
Issue
1
Pages
CD001936-CD001936
ISSN
  • 1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-1858
OpenAlex
W2153011983
Cited by
678
References
321
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 50 · 2012: 53
FWCI
4.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
Keywords
allergen immunotherapy, allergic rhinitis, tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen, symptom scores, medication use, quality of life, adverse events, placebo comparison, treatment efficacy and safety, treatment duration, allergen sensitivity, allergen avoidance, allergen desensitization, allergen tolerance
MeSH terms
Allergens, Desensitization, Immunologic, Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal, Humans, Injections, Subcutaneous, Pollen, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

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