Treatment protocol
Patients received either an intramuscular injection methylprednisolone 80 mg as a single dose or an intramuscular injection with saline solution (NaCl 0.9%, B.Brown). Injections were given during a period of 6 days. All patients received their injections before the pollen peak of the season. Pre-trial all patients received a “Rescue medication package” (containing Desloratadine tablet 5 mg × 1, sodium cromoglycate eye drops 40 mg/ml 1–2 drops × 2, Mometasone Furoate nasal spray 50 μm × 2). The rescue medication was not allowed after trial start until Day 3 after 2 consecutive days of symptoms and could then be used throughout the trial.