Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Sublingual Immunotherapy as an Alternative to Induce Protection Against Acute Respiratory Infections
Published on: August 30, 2014
SQ sublingual immunotherapy tablets for children with allergic rhinitis: A review of phase three trials
Péter Csonka1,2, Eckard Hamelmann3, Mirjana Turkalj4,5,6
1Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Insights
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets effectively reduce allergy symptoms in children and adolescents. Early treatment with SQ SLIT tablets may offer long-term benefits, including preventing asthma development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Clinical Trials
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis are common in children.
- Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a treatment option for allergic diseases.
- Evidence on the efficacy and safety of SLIT tablets in pediatric populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the efficacy and safety of SQ SLIT tablets in children and adolescents.
- To review data from phase three, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
- To assess SLIT tablet use in patients with allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis, with or without asthma.
Main Methods:
- Conducted comprehensive PubMed searches.
- Included unpublished data where necessary.
- Analyzed data from nine eligible trials evaluating grass, house dust mite, ragweed, and tree SLIT tablets.
Main Results:
- SQ SLIT tablets consistently reduced allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms and medication use compared to placebo.
- A five-year trial showed sustained symptom reduction and disease modification with SQ grass SLIT.
- SLIT tablets were well-tolerated in pediatric participants.
Conclusions:
- SQ SLIT tablets are supported by evidence for treating allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis in children and adolescents.
- Long-term data suggest disease-modifying effects and benefits of early immunotherapy initiation.
- Earlier allergy immunotherapy may be clinically relevant for disease course modification.
Aim:
To provide paediatricians with a summary of efficacy and safety of SQ sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets from phase three, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis, with and without asthma.
Methods:
PubMed searches were conducted and unpublished data were included if necessary.
Results:
Of the 93 publications, 12 were identified reporting 10 trials. One trial was excluded as paediatric-specific efficacy data were unavailable. The nine eligible trials evaluated grass, house dust mite, ragweed and tree SLIT tablets. Consistent reductions in allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms and medication use were observed with SQ SLIT tablets versus placebo. In a five-year trial, sustained reduction of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms, asthma symptoms and medication use were observed with SQ grass SLIT tablet versus placebo. The number-needed-to-treat to prevent asthma symptoms and medication use in one additional child during follow-up was lowest in younger children. SQ SLIT tablets were generally well tolerated across trials.
Conclusion:
Evidence supports use of SQ SLIT tablets in children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis, with and without asthma. Long-term data demonstrate disease-modifying effects of SQ grass SLIT tablet and suggest the clinical relevance of initiating allergy immunotherapy earlier in the disease course.
More Related Videos
03:40Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis
Published on: December 20, 2024
11:54Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
