[Monitoring the efficacy of immunotherapy by symptom scores and the skin prick test in patients with allergic rhinitis].

Objectives: We evaluated the role of the skin prick test, symptom scores, and total and specific IgE levels in monitoring the efficacy of immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients with allergic rhinitis were assigned to two treatment groups depending on their preferences and their conditions to comply with follow-ups. Thus, 20 patients (12 females, 8 males; mean age 26 years; range 12 to 40 years) and 10 controls (6 females, 4 males; mean age 28 years; range 16 to 48 years) received immunotherapy and medical treatment, respectively. All the patients were evaluated by skin prick tests, symptom scores, and total and specific IgE levels before, and after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of, the treatment.

Results: Symptom scores and skin test results differed significantly after treatment in the immunotherapy group (p<0.01), whereas similar results were obtained in the control group. These two parameters also differed significantly between the two groups (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between the total IgE and specific IgE results. Immunotherapy-associated adverse events were few, and none required discontinuation.

Conclusion: Skin prick tests and symptom scores can be used in monitoring the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis.