Long-term efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in patients with perennial rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Sublingual immunotherapy has a documented clinical efficacy, but only a few long-term studies have been performed in people with perennial rhinitis.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-seven patients with allergies to house dust mites were treated with sublingual house dust-mite-specific immunotherapy for 2 or 3 years and were also observed for 3 years after discontinuation of the treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (67 patients) received active treatment for 2 years and then 1 year for placebo, and group B (70 patients) received active treatment for 3 years. The success of the treatment was evaluated with the symptom score, skin prick test results, and the nasal allergen challenge score.


RESULTS
According to our study results, we found a greater improvement in the 3 years of sublingual immunotherapy compared with the 2 years of sublingual immunotherapy when we looked at the comparative results of the total 6 years.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest 3 years of sublingual immunotherapy for patients with perennial allergic rhinitis who require immunotherapy and do not accept the subcutaneous route of allergen administration.
Tahamiler
Rauf
R
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Istanbul, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey. tahamiler@gmail.com
Saritzali
Gkioukxel
G
Canakcioglu
Salih
S
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E