[Lowered effectiveness of immunotherapy for cypress pollinosis by using Japanese cedar pollen extract].

BACKGROUND

Japanese cedar and cypress pollen share a common antigen. The cedar pollen season is followed by the cypress pollen season. However, both the clinical significance and involvement of cypress pollinosis in the treatment of the cedar pollinosis have not yet been clarified.

METHODS

The clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with cedar pollen extract for cedar pollinosis was evaluated during the cypress pollen dispersal season in Japan. In addition, the change in cypress pollen specific IgE antibodies of the patients with cedar pollinosis was examined before and after the pollen season.

RESULTS

Sublingual immunotherapy with cedar pollen extract did not improve the clinical symptoms of the cedar pollinosis patients combined with cypress pollinosis in the cypress pollen season. The cypress pollen specific IgE antibodies were found to demonstrate significant seasonal changes.

CONCLUSION

The presence of cypress pollinosis should therefore be taken into consideration when planning the optimal treatment for cedar pollinosis. Sublingual immunotherapy with cedar pollen extract may not be effective for cypress pollinosis.