title: Efficacy of sublingual specific immunotherapy on allergic asthma and rhinitis in children's real life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sublingual-specific immunotherapy (SLIT) is considered as a valid treatment of respiratory allergies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We performed a case-control study to evaluate the effect of SLIT in children with allergic asthma and rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study plan included 140 patients (age 6-14 yr, 43% girls and 57% boys) presenting allergic rhinitis and/or asthma, 70 treated with SLIT actively for three years and 70 controls never treated with specific immunotherapy (only symptomatic drugs). Rhinitis Symptom Score (RSS), Asthma Symptom Score (ASS) and Medication Score (MS) were evaluated at beginning and during the 3 years of immunotherapy. results: There was a significant improvement of RSS (mean ± SD) in the SLIT group: baseline 5.31 ± 2.01, third year 1.38 ± 1.06 (p < 0.0001 vs baseline).
  
  
  METHODS
  baseline 5.00 ± 1.08, third year 4.68 ± 1.152 (P ¼ NS). ASS (mean ± SD) in the SLIT group: baseline 4.09 ± 2.21, third year 1.23 ± 1.4 (p < 0.0001 vs baseline).
  
  
  METHODS
  baseline 4.04 ± 2.46, third year 3.62 ± 2.26 (p ¼ NS). MS (mean ± SD) in the SLIT group: baseline 3.30 ± 1.4, third year 0.88 ± 1.26 (p < 0.0001 vs baseline).
  
  
  METHODS
  baseline 3.19 ± 1.23, third year 3.39 ± 1.12 (p ¼ NS). There are no statistically significant differences among monosensitized/polysensitized patients and at different age ranges. None of the patients included reported severe systemic reactions or anaphylaxis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the treatment, the active group showed sustained reductions in mean asthma and rhinitis symptom scores when compared with controls to confirm the efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. dicoste.annalisa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Castro
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zicari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Indinnimeo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Coste
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Occasi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castagna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giancane
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duse
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome