Subcutaneous Immunotherapy in Patients with Fagales Pollen-Induced Oral Allergy Syndrome

Abstract

Oralallergysyndrome(OAS) is the most common foodallergy-related condition in adults. This study aimed to investigate whethersubcutaneousimmunotherapy(SCIT) withFagalespollen-containing extracts can improve the clinical symptoms of OAS in Korea. In total, 56 OASpatientswere included: 19 subjects treated with SCIT, which includedFagalespollen extracts, and 37 not treated withimmunotherapy(IT). We reviewed thepatients' medical records and administered a telephone questionnaire at one point to assess baseline OAS features and changes in thepatients' OAS and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) symptoms after treatment. Only 12patientswho received SCIT and 15patientsthat did not receive SCIT could report on changes in OAS symptoms after treatment because the otherpatientspracticed strict avoidance of their culprit fruits and vegetables, and they could not respond to the status of OAS. SCIT reduced the severity of OAS (p=0.005). Nine of the 12patients(75%) that received SCIT reported a more than 50% reduction in OAS symptoms. In contrast, only three of the 15patients(20%) that did not receive IT reported more than a 50% reduction in OAS symptoms. SCIT also reduced the severity of ARC symptoms (p<0.001). The results indicate that SCIT withFagalespollen-containing extracts is associated with improved OAS symptoms in Korea.