Clinical evaluation for sublingual immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides farinae drops in adult patients with allergic asthma.

Abstract

The efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in house dust mite-induced allergic asthma (AA) have yet to be firmly established, especially in adult patients. Our objective is to evaluate the efficacy of SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae drops in adult patients with AA. One hundred and thirty-four adult patient data with house dust mite (HDM)-induced AA who had been treated for 2years were collected. These patient data that we collected were divided into the SLIT group (n=85) and control group (n=49). All patients were treated with low to moderate dose of inhaled glucocorticoid and long-acting β2 agonists. Patients in the SLIT group were further treated with D. farinae drops. Clinical scores including the total asthma symptom score (TASS), total asthma medicine score (TAMS), asthma control test (ACT), and peak flow percentage (PEF%) were assessed before treatment and at yearly visits. The presence of adverse events (AEs) were recorded once a month. Before treatment, the PEF% in the SLIT group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). After 2years, both treatments were effective in the clinical scores when compared with baseline values (all p<0.001). Meanwhile, the SLIT group showed significantly lower TASS and TAMS (all p<0.001) and higher ACT (p<0.001) and PEF% (p<0.05) when compared with the control group. No severe systemic AEs were reported. SLIT with D. farinae drops plus pharmacotherapy is more effective than routine drug treatment in adult patients with AA.