title: Sublingual immunotherapy in polysensitized patients: effect on quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life (QOL) is an important issue in allergic rhinitis and has been evaluated in a number of studies that have shown how it is impaired in untreated patients and improved by effective treatment. However, there are no data concerning QOL after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in polysensitized patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect, in real-life clinical practice, of SLIT on QOL in a population of polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 167 consecutively enrolled polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis. QOL was measured in all cases with the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire at baseline and after 1 year of SLIT (performed in approximately 70% of cases using single allergen extracts provided by the same manufacturer).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent causes of sensitization were grass pollen, Parietaria, and house dust mites. The mean number of sensitizations per patient was 3.65. SLIT was performed with 1 extract in 123 patients (73.6%), with 2 extracts in 31 patients (18.6%), and with more than 2 extracts in 13 patients (7.8%). The mean values of all the QOL items improved significantly (P < .01 in all cases), with the following reductions noted: activities, 3.96 to 2.89; sleep, 2.07 to 1.56; general problems, 2.16 to 1.5; practical problems, 3.69 to 2.58; nasal symptoms, 3.57 to 2.50; eye symptoms, 2.92 to 1.83; and emotional aspects, 2.2 to 1.44.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that QOL can be improved in polysensitized patients treated with SLIT, and that the use of just 1 or 2 allergen extracts seems to be sufficient and effective in terms of improving QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. gio.cip@libero.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cadario
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ridolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Gioacchino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sillano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colangelo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pravettoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carosso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Riario-Sforza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puccinelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scurati
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frati
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D052179:Antigens, Plant