Sublingual Immunotherapy in Asian Children: 2-Year Follow-Up Results

Abstract

Backgrounds: House-dust mites are the main cause of allergic rhinitis in Asia, for which immunotherapy (SLIT) is a currently accepted treatment. However, few studies have evaluated the efficiency of SLIT on Asian children with allergic rhinitis for a period longer than one year. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of SLIT for Asian children with allergic rhinitis due to house-dust mites over a 2-year period. Materials and Method: This study included 65 patients who had allergic rhinitis due to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. All patients were treated with SLIT (Staloral). Symptom scores and quality of life were evaluated by using questionnaires over two years. The medication score was assessed monthly by a diary medication card and serologic tests were evaluated before and two years after the start of treatment. Adverse effects and dropout rates were also investigated. Results: All nasal and non-nasal symptoms and quality of life were significantly improved after two years of treatment. Furthermore, the total medication score decreased significantly and the serologic tests showed a significant change two years after the start of SLIT. Although minor adverse effects were reported, no systemic reactions were observed. The dropout rate was 40%. Conclusion: SLIT is an efficient and safe therapeutic tool for a period of two years in Asian children with allergic rhinitis to house-dust mites.