title: Long-term efficacy of allergen immunotherapy: what do we expect?
abstract: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only treatment of allergic diseases able to maintain its efficacy after discontinuation of treatment. The available literature suggests that a 3-year duration of treatment maintains the efficacy on allergic symptoms for at least an equivalent period of time. The current paper compares the 3- and 5-year duration in children with dust mite-induced asthma, and confirms that 3 years of SIT maintains its effectiveness for a further 3 years after stopping, with no significant difference compared with 5 years. Thus, 3 years is likely to be an adequate duration of SIT; however, studies with more prolonged follow-up periods are needed to investigate the persistence of the clinical benefit over time.
authors: Medical & Scientific Department, Stallergenes, Milan, Italy. frati.f@stallergenes.it
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Frati
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Dell'Albani
authors: Cristoforo
authors: C
authors: Incorvaia
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D004391:Dust