J Rhinol.  2015 Nov;22(2):69-74. 10.18787/jr.2015.22.2.69.

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

• Han DY
• Park IH
• Shin JM
• Yoo IO
• Cho JS
• Lee HM

• KMID: 2223200
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18787/jr.2015.22.2.69

Abstract

BACKGROUND
S: 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 METHODS
This study included 65 patients who had allergic rhinitis due to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. All patients were treated with SLIT (Staloral(R)). 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.

Keyword

Sublingual immunotherapy; Allergic rhinitis; House-dust mite; Quality of life; Children

MeSH Terms

Asia
Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Child*
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Follow-Up Studies*
Humans
Immunotherapy
Mites
Patient Dropouts
Quality of Life
Rhinitis
Serologic Tests
Sublingual Immunotherapy*

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Demographics of the study

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  Fig. 2. Nasal symptom score before treatment and 2 years after sublingual immunotherapy. All nasal symptom scores and total symptom scores were decreased significantly after sublingual immunotherapy. *: p＜0.05.

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  Fig. 3. Non-nasal symptom score before treatment and 2 years after sublingual immunotherapy. The symptom scores of itchy eye, epiphora, and red eye and the total symptom score were decreased significantly after sublingual immunotherapy. *: p ＜0.05.

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  Fig. 4. Change in the total medication score during sublingual immunotherapy. The medication score gradually decreased with time after sublingual immunotherapy, with a statistically significant decrease of the total medication score observed 10 months after sublingual immunotherapy. *: p＜0.05.

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  Fig. 5. Quality of life score before treatment and 2 years after sublingual immunotherapy. Sleep disturbances, nonrhinitis symptoms, practical problems, nose symptoms, eye symptoms and emotional disturbances were improved after sub-lingual immunotherapy. *: p＜0.05.

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  Fig. 6. Total IgE was significantly decreased at 2 years (A). IgG4 was significantly increased at 2 years (B). In addition, the level of ECP was decreased at 2 years (C). The IgE/IgG4 ratio showed a similar significant reduction (D). *: p＜0.05 vs. before treatment.

Reference

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