In vivo and in vitro immunological changes induced by a short course of grass XXXX immunotherapy tablets.

@entity1 @entity7370 @entity2023 @entity566 @entity56
BACKGROUND: The fast-dissolving grass @entity566 immunotherapy tablet (grass AIT), Grazax, has proven effective in grass pollen-induced @entity7370 . OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunological and cutaneous changes induced after a short course with grass AIT. METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial with 78 @entity1 randomly assigned to receive either grass AIT or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. Treatment lasted at least 8 weeks before the @entity2023 ( @entity2023 ), and continued until the season finished. Specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G4, IgE, and IgE-blocking factor to Phleum pratense were measured at the beginning of the trial and at different intervals during treatment. Immediate and delayed skin tests with P pratense were also performed. Safety endpoints were defined in terms of adverse events reported. RESULTS: A total of 75 @entity1 completed the trial (50 active and 25 placebo). P pratense IgG4, IgE, and IgE-blocking factor in actively treated @entity1 increased significantly from baseline to the start of the @entity2023 compared to placebo (P > .001, P = .017, and P = .005, respectively). The immediate cutaneous response was reduced during therapy in actively treated subjects, whereas placebo-treated subjects showed a decrease only after the start of the @entity2023 . The delayed response to the intradermal test in grass AIT-treated subjects diminished, although not in a significantly different way from the placebo-treated subjects. CONCLUSION: Treatment with grass AIT for grass pollen @entity56 induces immunological changes after only 1 month of treatment.
