SYMPTOM RELIEF AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS PATIENTS AFTER TRANSDERMAL ALLERGY IMMUNOTHERAPY

Introduction Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) experience side effects from pharmacotherapies and subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). This prospective, observational study (IRB-approved, informed consent) assessed changes in Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ) scores and symptoms from baseline to 3 months for patients with AR using a transdermal allergy immunotherapy (TdIT) formulation. Methods In this observational study, patients 12-64 years old with seasonal/perennial AR who tried/failed SCIT, applied a TdIT with selected allergens compounded in a liposomal base cream over three months. Patients completed a survey at baseline, ∼1.5 months and ∼3 months to assess symptoms, quality of life, and side effects. This interim analysis compares baseline (S1) to 3-month (S3) results. Results Paired data from 43 patients (30 female, 13 male, mean age 43.4±14.6 years) were collected from eight physicians across 6 US states. Mean number of days between S1 and S3 = 93.9±32.8 days. MiniRQLQ scores (scale: 0=not troubled, to 6=extremely troubled during the last week) decreased statistically significantly from 2.51/6 at S1 to 1.94/6 at S3 ( P =.004, Wilcoxon test). At S3: side effects of TdIT were reported by 9 patients (none serious: 3 rash/redness, 1 rash/redness just once, 1 slight itching at application, and 4 not specified), 40% had noticed allergy symptom reduction, and 21% had stopped/reduced other allergy medication use. Conclusions TdIT may provide an alternative route of administration for allergy immunotherapy. Interim results demonstrated that patients with AR receiving TdIT had improved quality of life and reduced AR symptoms with minimal or no side effects.