Three-year sublingual immunotherapy for HDM-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: sustained ocular symptom...

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Ophthalmology
• Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

• Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) often co-occurs with allergic rhinitis (AR), forming allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC).
• Ocular symptoms in ARC are frequently underestimated in clinical trial assessments.
• This study focuses on isolating the ocular therapeutic effects of HDM-SLIT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the specific therapeutic effect of house dust mite sublingual immunotherapy (HDM-SLIT) on ocular symptoms.
• To provide targeted evidence for managing AC in patients sensitized to HDM.
• To assess the long-term efficacy and safety of HDM-SLIT for ARC.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 150 patients (aged 6-59) with ARC undergoing 3-year HDM-SLIT.
• Evaluation of Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), Total Ocular Symptom Score (TOSS), Total Medication Score (TMS), Combined Score of Medication and Rhinoconjunctivitis Symptoms (CSMRS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ).
• Assessment of adverse events (AEs) for safety evaluation.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in TNSS, TOSS, TMS, CSMRS, and VAS scores after 1, 2, and 3 years of HDM-SLIT (p < 0.001).
• Progressive improvements noted in TNSS, CSMRS, and VAS scores at years 2 and 3 compared to year 1 (p < 0.001).
• Significant improvements in RQLQ scores across all domains and age groups (p < 0.001); no serious systemic AEs reported.

Conclusions:

• Three-year HDM-SLIT provides significant, sustained, and progressive improvements in clinical outcomes and quality of life for ARC patients.
• HDM-SLIT demonstrates significant efficacy in improving ocular symptoms associated with ARC.
• The treatment exhibits a favorable safety profile over the 3-year study period.