Treatment of hay fever by Allerglobuline: a randomized double-blind study

Abstract

Eighty patients suffering from documented hay fever have been entered in a double-blind randomized study with the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of Allerglobuline, a 10% human immunoglobulin preparation of placental origin, in the treatment of hay fever. The placebo was a 10% human albumin solution. The treatment started 6 weeks before the customary onset time of the clinical symptoms. It included a course of ten pre-seasonal intramuscular injections, with 1 vial (5 ml) given twice a week, and followed by a booster injection of 1 vial on 15 June and 30 June during the grass pollen season. As the two groups of patients were similar, it was possible to demonstrate a significant symptomatic relief of rhinitis and conjunctivitis in the treated group, compared with the control group (P less than 0.0001), and an improvement of the respiratory symptoms. Symptomatic improvement was already apparent at the onset of the pollen season and persisted during the following weeks. An appreciable reduction in the consumption of antihistamines could also be shown (P less than 0.0001). Furthermore, a lesser increase in the total IgE level and in the specific cereal and grass pollen RAST could be demonstrated. This treatment can be seriously considered for the management of severe pollen allergy, particularly in those cases that show a poor response to immunotherapy.