Sublingual specific immunotherapy for adults and children: a post-marketing surveillance study.
BACKGROUND
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a relatively new form of treatment for type I allergies and a good safety profile is rapidly being established. Evidence on the efficacy of SLIT is increasing, and the present study provides further supportive data. We describe the results of treatment with a SLIT vaccine formulated with a range of allergen extracts obtained by allergologists in daily clinical practice.


METHODS
Adult and child patients (n = 159, 81 males, 78 females) with confirmed type I allergic sensitivities were treated with a standardized SLIT vaccine (ORALVAC) using the sublingual-swallow method. Evaluation of the efficacy of SLIT was based on the consumption of anti-allergic medication and a global assessment. Tolerability assessment was based on the incidence of local or systemic reactions.


RESULTS
Medication use was significantly reduced compared with that in previous years (p = 0.023). In a large subgroup of patients treated for pollen sensitivity the significance was stronger (p = 0.016). Global assessment revealed that only 3.5 % of patients showed no change in symptoms after therapy. High tolerability was achieved and no serious or severe adverse effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Over a one-year period, adult and child patients with a variety of type I allergies were treated with a SLIT vaccine that has shown significant efficacy and was well-tolerated with no serious or severe adverse events.
Drachenberg
K J
KJ
Bencard Allergie GmbH, Munich, Germany.
Urban
E
E
Pröll
S
S
Woroniecki
S R
SR
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000485:Allergens; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents