Efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy in Asian children

Sublingual immunotherapy is currently accepted as a suitable alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy because of its easy and painless administration and improved safety. Many clinical trials have demonstrated that sublingual immunotherapy is an effective and safe treatment for pollen or mite allergic rhinitis. However, there have been very few studies overall on children with allergic rhinitis who are sensitized to house-dust mites in Asia. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis to house-dust mites.

A total of 112 patients under the age of 15 who had allergic rhinitis to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae were included. All patients were treated with sublingual immunotherapy (Staloral(®)). Symptom scores and quality of life were evaluated by questionnaires until one year after sublingual immunotherapy. The medication score was assessed monthly using a diary medication card and serologic tests were evaluated before and 6 and 12 months after treatment. Adverse effects and compliance were also investigated.

All nasal and non-nasal symptoms and quality of life were significantly improved after treatment. The total medication score was decreased significantly after sublingual immunotherapy. There was no significant change in serologic tests. Some minor adverse effects were reported, however there were no systemic reactions. The drop-out rate was 21%.

Sublingual immunotherapy is a valuable therapy for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in Asian children sensitized to house-dust mites.