AN OPEN LABEL PILOT STUDY TESTING THE ROLE OF CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHY IN CHRONIC ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Purpose: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world.  India has an estimated number of 15-20 million patients with allergic bronchial asthma and 30-80% of these suffer from AR. So, AR is considered as a major chronic respiratory disease due to its prevalence, impact on quality of life (QoL), work/school performance and productivity, economic burden and links with asthma. This research aims at testing the role of classical homeopathy in bringing changes in serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level and absolute eosinophil count (primary outcome measures) and symptoms score and WHOQOL-BREF score related to AR (secondary outcome measures) by comparing the pre-trial and post-trial data.

Method: An open label,single arm, experimental, prospective, non-randomized, non-controlled, before and after comparison pilot study was carried on 34 participants suffering from chronic AR. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained; then thirty four consenting patients were enrolled after screening of 58 patients by eligibility criteria and were allocated to classical homeopathic treatment. Four cases were drop-outs; thirty cases were regular. Outcome measures were assessed and analyzed after one year.

Results:  After one year of homeopathic treatment, lowering of serum IgE level (1006.83±395.17 vs 336.5±126.96; P = 0.0000), absolute eosinophil count of blood (600.33±103.61 vs 302.5±82.21; P = 0.0000) and AR symptoms score (30.27±5.12 vs 12.83±2.72; P = 0.0000) and increase in WHOQOL-BREF scores of AR (58±7.01 vs 87.7±6.18; P = 0.0000) were statistically highly significant. No adverse effects and/or complications were observed. Most commonly used constitutional and acute remedies were Natrum muriaticum and Histamine hydrochloride respectively in different centesimal potencies.

Conclusion: Data suggest that classical homeopathic treatment may be a useful measure for the patients suffering from chronic AR. However, multi-centric randomized controlled trials with larger sample size should be undertaken for making firm recommendations.