Background. The aim of this work was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture and its impact on the immune system in comparison to
loratadine in the treatment of persistent
allergic rhinitis caused by house dust mites. Methods. In this study, 24 patients suffering from persistent
allergic rhinitis induced by house dust mites were treated either with acupuncture (n = 15) or with
loratadine (n = 9). The evaluation of the data was based on the subjective and the objective rhinoconjunctivitis symptom scores, specific and total
IgE, and
interleukins (IL-4, IL-10, and IFN- γ ) as markers for the activity of Th1 or Th2 cells. Results. The treatments with acupuncture as well as with
loratadine were considered effective in the patients' subjective assessment, whereby the effect of the acupuncture tended to be assessed as more persistent after the end of treatment. A change in the specific or the total
IgE was not detectable in either group. The
interleukin profile showed the tendency of an increasing
IL-10 value in the acupuncture group. The results of the study show that the effectiveness of acupuncture is comparable to that of
loratadine. Conclusion. Acupuncture is a clinically effective form of
therapy in the treatment of patients suffering from persistent
allergic rhinitis. The results indicate the probability of an immunomodulatory effect.