Monitoring Allergen Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) can be treated successfully with allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) for 3-5 years. This relative expensive and prolonged treatment is not suitable for everyone and therefore it is important to predict who will benefit from this therapy early after the start of treatment.This project will investigate whether a BAT with nasal fluid can detect inhibition during immunotherapy in comparison with a BAT with blood.

Inclusion Criteria:IgE-sensitized birch pollen allergyStart of Itulazax therapy or immunosuppressive therapy (nasal corticosteroid and/or antihistamine eye drops)Signed informed consentExclusion Criteria:Other underlying chronic conditions (immunological (autoimmune or immunodeficiency), oncological)Unstable uncontrolled asthmaSmoking