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Published on: August 30, 2014
A prospective study on the safety of sublingual immunotherapy in pregnancy
1Allergist and Asthmologist, Department of Clinical Allergy and Asthma, Allergy and Asthma Clinic, Bombay, India. drwiqar@gmail.com
Background:
The aim of this study was to determine the safety of sublingual immunotherapy in pregnancy, which has not yet been reported.
Methods:
One hundred and fifty-five patients received sublingual immunotherapy with either house dust mite (D. farinae) or a mixture of up to five allergens during 185 pregnancies. Twenty-four patients received sublingual immunotherapy for the first time during pregnancy. Follow-up data were analysed with regard to abortion, perinatal mortality, prematurity, toxaemia and congenital malformation. Two control groups did not receive immunotherapy; group A (85 patients) received budesonide 400 μg twice daily and group B (40 patients) received rescue salbutamol inhalation. All three groups were on appropriate avoidance measures.
Results:
Six-year follow-up data for the sublingual immunotherapy group revealed an incidence of complications less than that in the general population and a higher incidence of complications in both control groups.
Conclusions:
This study concludes that sublingual immunotherapy is safe during pregnancy and is also safe when initiated for the first time in a pregnant patient.
