Methods: We performed a 1-year single-centre cohort study of subcutaneous immunotherapy using house dust mite extract, weed pollen extract, or mixed house dust mite/weed pollen extract in 44 allergic rhinitis patients. All the allergens responsible for the symptom of each patient were included in his immunotherapy. Quality of life was evaluated with the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) before and after 1-year immunotherapy.
Results: After 1-year subcutaneous immunotherapy, RQLQ score of the house dust mite group 1.02±0.82(n=12)was significantly better than baseline RQLQ score 2.25±1.29 (p=0.024) ; RQLQ score for the weed pollen season of the weed pollen group 1.53±1.13 (n=21)was significantly better than baseline level 3.08±1.22 (p=0.000); RQLQ score for the weed pollen season of the mixed house dust mite/weed pollen group 1.78±1.02 (n=11) was significantly better than baseline level 2.92±1.25 (p=0.004), RQLQ for ordinary times of the mixed house dust mite/weed pollen group 0.62±0.62 (n=11) was significantly better than baseline score 1.23±0.84 (p=0.002). The reduction of RQLQ score in the house dust mite group was 1.23±1.63, and 1.55±1.24 in the weed pollen group after 1-year treatment. In the mixed house dust mite/weed pollen group, RQLQ for ordinary times deceased by 0.60±0.47, with no difference compared to the house dust mite group(p=0.224); RQLQ for the weed pollen season decreased by 1.14±1.01, with no difference compared to the weed pollen group (p=0.358).
Conclusions: There was no significant difference between the effect on quality of life of the mixed house dust mite/weed pollen extract immunotherapy and the effect of the house dust mite extract or the weed pollen extract immunotherapy. The efficacy of multi-allergen immunotherapy was not weaker than that of single-allergen immunotherapy.