Effectiveness of Desensitization Therapy for Grasses and Dust Mites on Asthma Exacerbations and Respiratory Function...

Background/Objectives: Allergic asthma (AA) is a common chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity triggered by environmental allergens such as pollen and dust mites. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), particularly its sublingual formulation (SLIT), is the only treatment capable of modifying the disease's natural course by targeting IgE-mediated sensitization mechanisms. Methods: We analyzed demographic, clinical, functional (FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC), and immunological data (specific IgE for Phl p1, Phl p5, Der p1, Der p2, Der p23), alongside asthma control parameters (ACT score), reliever use, and exacerbation frequency, in patients undergoing SLIT for grass pollen and dust mite allergens. Results: After at least twelve months of treatment, we observed significant reductions in exacerbation rate (p < 0.01) and reliever use (p = 0.0002). These improvements were particularly evident in the subgroup receiving grass pollen SLIT (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). An increase in ACT score was observed but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07), likely due to already high baseline control. All patients reported improved rhinitis symptoms. Lung function parameters showed no significant changes. SLIT was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events or discontinuations. The subgroup of patients treated with dust mite SLIT was small, limiting the statistical power and generalizability of these findings. Consequently, the dust mite results should be interpreted cautiously and considered exploratory. The more robust and statistically supported findings pertain to the grass pollen SLIT group, reflecting a more consolidated evidence base for this allergen. Conclusions: SLIT for grass pollen demonstrated promising, statistically supported benefits in reducing exacerbations and improving disease control, supporting its role as an effective adjunct therapy in AA. While dust mite SLIT also showed positive trends, the limited sample size warrants further investigation to confirm these preliminary findings. Overall, SLIT appears to be a safe and potentially beneficial option for patients with AA and allergic rhinitis, but larger studies are needed to substantiate its efficacy across different allergens.