— Early sign of Alzheimer's reversed in lab — One of the earliest known impairments caused by Alzheimer's disease - loss of sense of smell - can be restored by removing a plaque-forming protein in a mouse model of the disease,…
— Parental controls on embryonic development? — When a sperm fertilises an egg, each contributes a set of chromosomes to the resulting embryo, which at these very early stages is called a zygote. Early on, zygotic genes are inert,…
— Newly discovered heart stem cells make muscle and bone — Researchers have identified a new and relatively abundant pool of stem cells in the heart. The findings in the December issue of Cell Stem Cell, a Cell Press publication, show that…
— BUSM researchers develop blood test to detect membranous nephropathy — Research conducted by a pair of physicians at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Centre (BMC) has led to the development of a test that can help diagnose…
— New hip implants no better than traditional implants — New hip implants appear to have no advantage over traditional implants, suggests a review of the evidence published on bmj.com today…
— Action needed to improve men's health in Europe — Policies aimed specifically at men are urgently needed to improve the health of Europe's men, say experts on bmj.com today…
— Probiotics reduce infections for patients in intensive care — Traumatic brain injury is associated with a profound suppression of the patient's ability to fight infection. At the same time the patient also often suffers hyper-inflammation, due…
— High blood sugar levels in older women linked to colorectal cancer — Elevated blood sugar levels are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.…
— Engineered botulism toxins could have broader role in medicine — The most poisonous substance on Earth - already used medically in small doses to treat certain nerve disorders and facial wrinkles - could be re-engineered for an expanded role in helping…
Desensitisation approaches effective against hayfever-like allergies
Immunotherapy given as pills or drops under the tongue is a safe and effective way to treat hayfever-like allergies caused by pollen and dust mites, according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review. The researchers say the approach is an attractive alternative to immunotherapy injections in children.
Common treatments for hayfever-like symptoms caused by allergies include antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids. If these prove unsuccessful, doctors may recommend immunotherapy, a desensitisation approach that involves exposing patients to increasing doses of an allergen. Traditionally immunotherapy was carried out by injection, but allergens are now also applied as pills or drops under the tongue.
Although a 2003 Cochrane review suggested sublingual immunotherapy was effective, the findings were based on a relatively small number of trials. Much more evidence is now available and the researchers were able to add another 38 studies to their current review, totalling 60 altogether. They included trials of pollen and dust mites, as well as one trial of cat allergens. Sublingual immunotherapy significantly reduced symptoms of allergic rhinitis and requirements for medication compared to placebos. The results confirm the treatment is effective and has very few serious adverse effects.
The larger number of trials allowed the researchers to make stronger recommendations for use of sublingual immunotherapy in children. 'This is an attractive approach for treating allergies in children. It is a more convenient alternative compared to injection immunotherapy,' said Suzana Radulovic, one of the review authors, who is currently based at the Paediatric Allergy Research Department at St Thomas' Hospital in London, UK. 'It is encouraging to see similar treatment effects in children compared to those in adults.'
Overall, treatment effects comparable to those seen in the previous review provide greater reassurance for clinical practitioners. 'Sublingual immunotherapy is an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis. With the inclusion of larger, better designed trials, we can be much more confident about the results,' said Radulovic. 'What we'd like to see now is more work on optimum dosage and treatment times.'
Or subscribe for our Newsletter, a free e-mail publication. It is published practically every day.
Research may lead to improved hearing for some
Novel method of measuring insulin promises improvements in diabetes treatment
Gene variant increases risk of asthma
Secrets of cellular signalling shed light on novel cancer stem cell therapies