Low dose sublingual therapy in patients with allergic rhinitis due to house dust mite

In a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial, low dose sublingual therapy with house dust mite was effective in relieving symptoms in 72% of the group of patients with perennial rhinitis due to house dust mite (P less than 0.03). Following active treatment, there was a significant increase in morning peak nasal inspiratory flow rate (P less than 0.01) in those who improved (thirteen out of eighteen) and resistance to nasal provocation with house dust mite also increased, in some cases up to 1000-fold (P less than 0.05). Oral therapy is safe and avoids the side effects of desensitizing injections which can be serious. The potential for oral desensitization is great and further studies on this form of treatment are needed.