{blacktriangledown}Grazax for hay fever?

doi:10.1136/dtb.2008.01.0001

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2008;46:9-10; doi:10.1136/dtb.2008.01.0001

${blacktriangledown}$ Grazax for hay fever?

Relevant BNF section: BNF 3.4.2

Over 1 in 5 adults in the UK are estimated to have allergicrhinitis and around half of these people are allergic to grasspollen.¹ Despite optimal use of intranasal corticosteroids andoral antihistamines, some patients continue to have troublesomesymptoms. For example, in one general practice survey, 62% ofpatients taking both these treatments described control of theirsymptoms as partial or poor.² UK professional guidelines recommendthe use of allergen injection immunotherapy in patients withIgE-mediated seasonal pollen-induced rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis"whose symptoms respond inadequately to usual therapy".³ Suchintervention by subcutaneous injection aims to modify the underlyingcause of allergic rhinitis and can reduce symptoms, but mayresult in severe bronchospasm and anaphylaxis requiring resuscitation.^4,5Sublingual immunotherapy has been proposed as an alternativeto the subcutaneous route.² ${blacktriangledown}$ Grazax (ALK-Abelló) is thefirst product licensed in the UK for sublingual immunotherapy.Here we consider its role in the management of patients withhay fever.