Long-term efficacy of specific subcutaneous, short-term MPL adjuvant immunotherapy over three treatment and three follow-up years, as measured by quality of life

Abstract

Background

Apart from allergen avoidance, specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only causal treatment for pollen allergy diseases. Its efficacy and tolerability have been demonstrated in numerous studies on adults and children. There are fewer studies, however, evidencing a long-term treatment effect and the effect of treatment on patients' quality of life (QoL).

Patients and methods

The aim of this prospective, noninterventional postmarketing surveillance (PMS) study was to document QoL with, and long-term effect of, an MPL (monophosphoryl lipid A)-adjuvanted allergoid involving four injections over 3 treatment years and 3 follow-up years. In the period from 2006–2012, 223 pollen-allergic individuals from 12 centers were evaluated annually. The patients completed standardized questionnaires on QoL for each pollen season. Symptoms documented in the QoL questionnaire were temporally aligned with data from regional pollen traps.

Results

Patients with allergy to pollen from early bloomers (birch, alder, hazel), as well as patients with grass/rye allergy, showed a continuous improvement in treatment effect over the 3 treatment years and a good carry-over effect in follow-up years 1–3.

Conclusion

Short-term MPL adjuvant therapy showed good efficacy at 3 years following treatment completion and is suited to the long-term improvement of patient QoL.

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