Immunotherapy with partially purified and standardized tree pollen extracts

Patients allergic to tree pollen entered a 3-year course of immunotherapy (1980-83) with either birch pollen extracts alone (n = 26) or patient-tailored extracts of birch, alder and hazel pollen (n = 27). The clinical and immunological results of this study are published elsewhere. This paper contains an evaluation of skin prick test and nasal provocation test results. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups concerning these two parameters. In both groups the allergen-specific sensitivity in the skin showed seasonal variations but a significant decrease. During the years of treatment there was also a significant decrease in the specific sensitivity of the nasal mucosa. With the present demands for purification and standardization of allergen extracts it is of practical and economic interest to know that tree pollen-allergic patients showing positive reactions to birch, alder and hazel extracts can be effectively treated using birch pollen extract alone.