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Control of seasonal symptoms by means of a preventive and easy to use (only one intradermal injection eight weeks before the pollen peak) immunotherapy, is recommended nowadays. We verified the clinical efficacy of E.P.D. (Enzyme Potentiated Desensibilization) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. This particular immunotherapy consists of an intradermal injection mix, made up of allergenic extracts at extremely low doses and an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase. The vaccine is administered once a year, eight weeks before pollen peaks. We studied a group of 40 patients allergic to grass pollen. The results, analysed statistically on the basis of a symptoms score, showed good clinical efficacy and a significant reduction of drug consumption during the high pollen period. Due to the clinical effectiveness, easy administration (only on injection) and excellent tolerance of the immunotherapy, E.P.D. is particularly suited for the prevention of seasonal symptoms in patients allergic to grass pollen.

Environmental control, especially means for blocking the release into the air of mite allergens embedded in padded furniture (mattress, pillows), represents the first important step in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergic diseases. New to the market is a home hygiene spray that creates a protective barrier on padded furniture and is thereby able to contain the dispersion into the air of allergic particles. We tested the effectiveness of the spray in vitro. Since mites, especially D. Pteronyssinus, are considered the foremost allergens, we verified the ability of the invisible barrier to impede the diffusion of the allergen and the mobile forms of these mites (Der p 1, Der 2). The product under exam created a barrier that totally blocked the passage of mobile forms and almost totally prevented the passage of allergens (> 99%).

In the vast area of qualitative pathologies caused by foods, real IgE-mediated allergic reactions are rather rare. More commonly observed and apparently on a constant rise in Western countries are reactions from food intolerance, especially in relationship with the massive exposure to additives used in industrial food products. This study involved a population of 582 adult patients with chronic pseudo-allergic dermatopathies. The link between symptoms and intolerance to food additives has been proved on the basis of the efficacy of a strict diet that eliminates certain foods and the positivity of the provocation test in double-blind trial controlled with a placebo in 165 patients (about 28% of the cases). These results lead us to conclude that additives are a frequent cause of chronic pseudo-allergic dermatopathies in adult patients and, in general, a problem of primary importance in the allergology practice.

Prilotest is a new disposable skin puncture test that has been recently produced and marketed by Laboratorio Farmaceutico Lofarma, Milan-Italy. The tip of the device is submerged in a well containing the allergen extract. As a result, the product is ready for use and there is no longer a need to place a drop of the allergen extract on the skin beforehand. Thus, the diagnostic procedure is simplified, the test offers excellent reproducibility. We made a comparative test of the reproducibility of the new method and Pepys' modified prick test on thirty patients (10 sensitized to Grass pollen, 10 to Pellitory pollen, and 10 to house dust mites); each test was repeated eight times. We also evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of the new method in 39 different allergic patients (13 sensitized to Grass pollen, 13 to Pellitory pollen, and 13 to house dust mites) and in 39 healthy subjects. The results show that the new method has a significantly higher level of reproducibility than Pepys' modified prick test. Furthermore, the reproducibility obtained is higher than results reported in literature for various standardized prick test methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the new method was excellent.