Ahlbeck L, Ahlberg E, Björkander J, Aldén C, Papapavlou G, Palmberg L, Nyström U, Retsas P, Nordenfelt P, Togö T, Johansen P, Rolander B, Duchén K, Jenmalm MC
Clin Exp Allergy. 2022 Jun;52(6):747-759. doi: 10.1111/cea.14138. Epub 2022 Apr 1. PMID: 35332591
Nearly 1/3 of the adult population of Sweden report allergic rhinitis. Although the prevalence of allergic sensitization is up to nearly half of the patients, there is a gap for a fast, efficient, and safe way to stimulate tolerance in patients with severe allergic rhinitis.
The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy after intralymphatic immunotherapy with one or two allergens: birch- or grass pollen or both and to determine its immune modulatory effects including changes in spontaneous and allergen-induced cytokine and chemokine production, and proportions of T helper cell subsets in circulation.
People with severe birch and timothy allergy were randomized and received three doses of 0.1 ml of birch and 5-grass allergen extracts (10,000 SQ units/ml), or birch and placebo or 5-grass and placebo by ultrasound-guided injections into inguinal lymph nodes at monthly intervals. Characteristics reported before treatment and after each birch and grass pollen season included: rhinoconjunctivitis total symptom score, medication score and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire and circulating proportions of T helper subsets and allergen-induced cytokine and chemokine production (analysed by flow cytometry and Luminex).
After treatment with one or two allergens, the three groups related less symptoms, littler use of medication and better quality of life during the birch and grass pollen seasons, at an approximate rate. The most common adverse event reported was mild local pain. IgE levels to birch decreased, whereas birch-induced IL-10 secretion increased in all three groups. IgG4 levels to birch and timothy and skin prick test reactivity persisted mainly unaffected. Conjunctival challenge tests with timothy extract indicated a superior threshold for allergen. In all three groups, regulatory T cell frequencies were augmented 3 years after treatment.
In conclusion, intralymphatic immunotherapy with one or two allergens in people with grass and birch pollen allergy was effective and safe and may be associated with other immune modulatory responses.
