---
title: Efficacy and Safety of Birch Pollen Immunotherapy in Local Allergic Rhinitis
nct_id: NCT03157505
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: PHASE3
sponsor: Medical University of Silesia
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Allergic Rhinitis
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03157505.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03157505"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2017-05-17
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:07:17.085Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Efficacy and Safety of Birch Pollen Immunotherapy in Local Allergic Rhinitis

**NCT ID:** [NCT03157505](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03157505)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** PHASE3
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 78
- **Lead Sponsor:** Medical University of Silesia
- **Conditions:** Allergic Rhinitis, Allergic Reaction
- **Start Date:** 2014-01-05
- **Completion Date:** 2017-03-02
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2017-05-17

## Brief Summary

Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is relatively new disease. The question of effect of allergen specific immunotherapy on LAR is open. The randomized, double blind placebo controlled trial of birch subcutaneous AIT on LAR were performed in twenty eight patients. The therapy was performed during 24 months in proportion 15 patients with AIT and 13 placebo. The primary endpoint was decreased of symptoms medication score (SMS). Additionally monitoring serum specific IgE, specific IgG4 and nasal specific IgE (nsIgE) to Bet v1 and parameters of safety and quality of life were provided.

## Detailed Description

Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is still an under diagnosed and under treated disease. It is characterised by local production of IgE during natural exposure to aeroallergens. These patients have negative skin prick tests and serum-specific IgEs but have positive nasal provocation tests for aeroallergens. More than 50% of patients with chronic non-allergic rhinitis may have a problem with lack of LAR diagnosis. Misdiagnosis can lead to mistakes in the treatment as well as inefficiencies.

Besides on only local IgE-mediated reaction, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) could be a potential way of treatment such patients. However, there are only sufficient data that the AIT is effective in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma to pollens and house dust mites and some animal.

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of AIT for birch pollen allergens in patients with local allergic rhinitis and a confirmed birch pollen allergy.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* well document symptoms of rhinitis during birch pollen season
* positive nasal provocation test to birch
* negative results of skin prick tests to inhalant allergen including: D. pteronyssius, D. farinae, grass pollen, birch, hazel, alder Alternaria, and cat.
* negative results of serum total and allergen specific IgE against mentioned allergens.

Exclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of bronchial asthma, non-allergic rhinitis (especially senile or vasomotor rhinitis) and severe non-stable diseases. All subjects were required to abstain from anti-allergy drugs and glucocorticoid nasal drops for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the study.
```

## Arms

- **Purethal Birch immunotherapy** (ACTIVE_COMPARATOR) — Purethat Birch intervention and symptomatic treatment for 24 months
- **placebo and symptomatic treatment** (PLACEBO_COMPARATOR) — placebo intervention and symtomatic treatment during 24 months

## Interventions

- **Purethal Birch immunotherapy** (DRUG) — Purethal birch was administered as perennial therapy: 24 months
- **Placebo and symptomatic treatment** (OTHER) — symptomatic treatment including: antihitamine drug, nasal dropps and placebo injection

## Primary Outcomes

- **area under the curve (AUC)** _(time frame: 24 months)_ — area under the curve (AUC) for the combined symptom and medication scores (SMS)

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

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