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  • Title: Safety of two cluster schedules for subcutaneous immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis or asthma patients sensitized to inhalant allergens.
    Author: Pfaar O, Klimek L, Fischer I, Sieber J, Amoroso S, Moreno Aguilar C, Shah K, Mösges R.
    Journal: Int Arch Allergy Immunol; 2009; 150(1):102-8. PubMed ID: 19339808.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) usually requires a long titration phase, which can be associated with various adverse events (AEs). OBJECTIVES: It was the aim of this study to determine the safety of 2 cluster regimens for SCIT in patients with allergic rhinitis, with or without mild or moderate allergic asthma, who were sensitized to grass and/or tree pollen, or house dust mites (HDM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult patients were included in a European, open-label, prospective trial. Pollen-allergic patients received grass pollen, grass and olive pollen, or hazel, alder and birch pollen according to a 3-week titration cluster. HDM-allergic patients received HDM extract according to a 2-week titration cluster. The safety of the titration phase was assessed in terms of local and systemic AEs. RESULTS: The safety analysis included 157 patients: 110 received pollen and 47 HDM extract. During the cluster titration, 248 AE episodes were reported in the pollen group and 113 in the HDM group; these were mainly local reactions. Around one third of patients (30.9% pollen and 38.3% HDM) did not experience any AE. In most cases (67.1% of pollen and 71.1% of HDM patients), AEs did not lead to a change in titration schedule. No anaphylactic reaction or other serious life-threatening systemic AEs were reported. Only 2 patients in the HDM group discontinued treatment because of AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid cluster titration was well tolerated in adults with allergic rhinitis, with or without mild to moderate allergic asthma, due to pollen or HDM. This short-titration, high-dose cluster regime may allow better patient compliance and cost savings.
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