Early compliance and efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis for house dust mites.
OBJECTIVE
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has recently received much attention around the world as a treatment for allergic rhinitis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of SLIT in Korean patients with allergic rhinitis caused by house dust mites. The treatment compliance and the patient satisfaction with SLIT were also assessed.


METHODS
The patients who were sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae and who started SLIT between November 2007 and July 2008 were included in this study. The symptom questionnaires, which included items on rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal obstruction, itchy nose, olfactory disturbance, eye discomfort and sleep disturbance, were obtained before and 6 months after SLIT. The patient satisfaction and the adverse effects were also investigated.


RESULTS
One hundred forty-two patients started SLIT and 98 of them continued SLIT for 6 months or more. Ninety-two of the 98 patients completed the questionnaires. The duration of receiving SLIT was 9.8 months on average (range, 6 to 13 months). All the symptoms of allergic rhinitis were improved with SLIT. Forty-five percent of the patients were satisfied for SLIT, while 12% were unsatisfied. The incidence of adverse effects was 12% during maintenance therapy, although it was 48% during the up-dosing phase. The drop-out rate of SLIT was 31.0%.


CONCLUSIONS
The subjective symptoms were improved with SLIT in Korean patients with allergic rhinitis for house dust mites. Yet the drop out rate was high despite of the symptomatic improvement.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun
H
Chang
Doo Hee
DH
Han
Ji-Hun
JH
Mo
Jeong-Whun
JW
Kim
Dong-Young
DY
Kim
Chul Hee
CH
Lee
Yang-Gi
YG
Min
Chae-Seo
CS
Rhee