Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 152, No. 2, Aug 1995, 461-466.
Nasal immunotherapy to Parietaria: evidence of reduction of local allergic inflammation
G Passalacqua, M Albano, S Ruffoni, C Pronzato, AM Riccio, L Di Berardino, A Scordamaglia and GW Canonica
DIMI--Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy.
Studies over 10 yr have demonstrated local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) to be
an effective treatment for rhinitis due to pollens and mites. The aim of
our work was to investigate the effects of LNIT on the local inflammatory
phenomena, employing the model of nasal allergenic challenge, since no
evidence has been yet provided about LNIT effects on the events due to
allergic reactions. We evaluated, in addition, the possible effects of LNIT
on some systemic immunologic parameters and its clinical efficacy. The
study involved a double-blind, placebo- controlled trial of preseasonal
immunotherapy with Parietaria in 20 adults. A significant reduction of
symptoms, inflammatory infiltration, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1
(ICAM-1) expression on epithelial cells after nasal challenge was evidence
as long-lasting effect. No changes in serum allergen-specific IgE, IgG, and
soluble eosinophil cationic protein were detected, whereas an unexpected
increase of soluble ICAM-1 was found in the placebo group only. The
treatment was well tolerated and a significant clinical improvement under
natural allergenic exposure was observed in the active group. The present
study provides, for the first time, evidence that LNIT is able to modulate
the nasal allergic inflammation.
