title: Persistence of treatment with 5-grass pollen tablets in patients with allergic rhinitis: a real-life study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with allergic rhinitis, treatment adherence to allergen immunotherapy varies greatly in randomized and real-life studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of a 5-grass pollen tablet as sublingual immunotherapy, its treatment persistence, and the reasons for discontinuation in a real-life clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multicenter, prospective, open-label, noncontrolled observational study evaluated the use of sublingual immunotherapy with a 5-grass pollen tablet in a cross-sectional population of patients (≥5 years old) with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis with or without asthma. The primary objective was to determine the percentage of patients persisting with treatment across 1 season in a pre-co-seasonal scheme. Secondary objectives included evaluation of reasons for treatment discontinuation, safety and adverse events; effectiveness (based on physician and patient assessments), and treatment compliance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 196 patients (49.2% male, mean age 27.5 years, range 5.3-65.7 years), with treatment provided by 47 participating physicians. Sixty-seven percent of patients had polysensitivity and 32% had coexistent asthma. On average, patients were treated for 7 months with the 5-grass pollen tablet. After 1 month, 85% of all patients persisted with treatment, and 70% persisted after 7 months. Treatment discontinuation was due chiefly to known side effects (mild to moderate local allergic reactions). Most patients reported symptom improvement; 80% of all patients intended to continue treatment next season.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients with allergic rhinitis treated pre-co-seasonally with a 5-grass pollen tablet persisted with treatment after the first pollen season. Patients were willing to continue their treatment in the following season owing to improvement of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Stallergenes BV, Almere, The Netherlands. Electronic address: lras@stallergenes.com.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ras
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergology, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis lokatie Diakonessenhuis, Voorburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Rijnstate Ziekenhuis, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis H M
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Stengs
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis, Assen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ranny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Weissenbruch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000628:therapy*; D063729:Sublingual Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013607:Tablets; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D013607:Tablets