Effects of specific allergen immunotherapy on biological markers and clinical parameters in asthmatic children: a controlled-real life study

I Djuric-Filipovic,D Filipovic,Marco Caminati,Z Zivkovic,C Salvottini

doi:10.1186/s12948-017-0064-5

I Djuric-Filipovic, D Filipovic + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12948-017-0064-5

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Abstract

BackgroundAllergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment able to change the natural course of allergic diseases. We aimed at investigating the clinical efficacy of SLITOR (Serbian registered vaccine for sublingual allergen specific immunotherapy).Methods7–18 years old children with allergic asthma and rhinitis were enrolled and addressed to the active (AIT plus pharmacological treatment) or control (standard pharmacological treatment only) group. Clinical and medications scores, lung function and exhaled FeNO were measured at baseline and at every follow-up.ResultsThere was a significant improvement in both nasal and asthma symptom scores as well as in medication score in SLIT group. SLIT showed an important influence on lung function and airway inflammation.ConclusionsOur data showed that SLITOR was effective not only in terms of patient reported outcomes but an improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of lower airway inflammation were also observed.

Highlights

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment able to change the natural course of allergic diseases
We found clinical improvement in the sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) group, demonstrated by statistically significant decrease of all rhinitis symptoms after 2 years of SLIT vs. baseline for both groups (Table 2)
Our data showed that SLITOR is an effective treatment, decreasing both symptom and medication scores in the active group

Summary

Introduction

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment able to change the natural course of allergic diseases. Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways characterized by inflammation and bronchial remodeling. With a global prevalence of 9.4% in 6–7 years old patients and 12.6% in 13–14 years old patients asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood age [1, 2]. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) holds a great promise in the management of allergic conditions, as it is the only treatment able to change the natural course of respiratory allergic diseases [4]. Literature data has already shown that treatment with inhaled or oral corticosteroids as well as with biological treatment such as monoclonal humanized anti-IgE antibody is able to decrease the level of FeNO in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis [13]

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