Clinical efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous and sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), a comparative pharmaco-economic analysis. Materials and methods. The study included 60 patients with allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis with or without asthma induced by birch pollen. In the first group patients received subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) by «Phostal - allergen of trees pollen», in the second group - sublingual AIT (SLIT) by «Staloral - allergen of birch pollen». Results. All patients after the SCIT or SLIT in the first pollen season noted a decrease in the severity of nasal and conjunctival symptoms (SMD -1,93 [95% CI -2,39; -1,47] and -1,57 [95% CI -2,39; -0,75] for groups 1 and 2, respectively) and a decrease in the rescue medication requirement (SMD -1,98 [95% CI -2,57; -1,39] and -1,86 [95% CI -2,61; -1,11] for groups 1 and 2, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences between the SCIT and SLIT efficacy. After AIT in both groups there was a significant reduction in the cost of medication and medical services (on average 5 times). In a comparative pharmacoeconomic analysis «cost/efficacy» and «cost/utility» was showed comparable results of SCIT and SLIT.