Three years’ treatment to cure hay fever for a lifetime

Pills or injections over an extended period will acclimatise sufferers to pollen, says new research

By HAY FEVER sufferers could effectively cure their condition for many years if they can face three years of pills or injections to acclimatise them to pollen.

Experts at Imperial College London have said those blighted by the allergy can reduce their symptoms for “several years” after undergoing the treatment.

Many hay fever sufferers attempt some form of pollen acclimatisation as summer approaches, but the new research suggests that to achieve lasting effects patients must undergo three years of treatment.

Two years of the immunotherapy course do not bring the same lasting benefits, the study found.

Immunotherapy to overcome allergens is currently administered in specialist medical centres, in the first instance, in case patients suffer serious reactions such as anaphalaxis. However, later doses can be taken at home.

Imperial College’s Prof Stephen Durham, head of allergy and clinical immunology at the National Heart and Lung Institute, said: “You treat patients for three years and then they have a big improvement in their hay fever for several years after.

“Exposing people to grass pollen in this way is a very effective treatment for people who really have debilitating hay fever,” he added.

Symptoms of hay fever include bouts of sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes and the condition has been estimated to affect up to one in four Britons, with the majority of cases initiated by a reaction to grass pollen.

The new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama), involved patient volunteers at the Royal Brompton Hospital in west London.

Experts assessed the effectiveness of two different immunotherapies which used grass pollen extract – either as an injection or a pill taken un- der the tongue. A total of 106 patients were given either injection, tablets or a placebo. Overall, 92 patients completed the study.

After a two-year course of treatment, the results showed that both therapies were effective at tackling symptoms. But a year after patients had stopped taking the medication the effects were no better than the placebo group.

“Hay fever causes major impairment of sleep, work and school performance and leisure activities during what for most of us is the best time of the year,” said Prof Durham.

“Most people respond to the usual antihistamines and nasal sprays, although there is a portion who do not respond adequately or who have unacceptable side effects to the treatment.”

Describing the current findings,

‘Hay fever impairs sleep, and performance at work and school... at what is the best time of year for most’

Prof Durham said: “This study shows that whereas both immunotherapy treatments were highly effective, two years of treatment was insufficient to yield the maximum benefit.

“We have re-confirmed that both treatments are effective but that, in order to get the long-term clinical benefits after stopping the treatment, you have to take it for three years.

“Clinicians and patients should continue to follow international guidelines that recommend a minimum of three years’ treatment.”

Previous studies published by Imperial College researchers have shown the long-lasting benefits of both immunotherapy injections and pills for severe hay fever – benefits that persist for at least two to three years after the treatment has stopped.

Households which include hay fever sufferers are advised to keep doors and windows shut during the day in summertime and to dry clothes inside, rather than on a washing line.

Grooming and washing pets more frequently is also recommended to reduce exposure to pollen.