title: Adherence to Sublingual Immunotherapy.
abstract: Adherence is a major issue in any medical treatment. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is particularly affected by a poor adherence because a flawed application prevents the immunological effects that underlie the clinical outcome of the treatment. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) was introduced in the 1990s, and the early studies suggested that adherence and compliance to such a route of administration was better than the traditional subcutaneous route. However, the recent data from manufacturers revealed that only 13% of patients treated with SLIT reach the recommended 3-year duration. Therefore, improved adherence to SLIT is an unmet need that may be achieved by various approaches. The utility of patient education and accurate monitoring during the treatment was demonstrated by specific studies, while the success of technology-based tools, including online platforms, social media, e-mail, and a short message service by phone, is currently considered to improve the adherence. This goal is of pivotal importance to fulfill the object of SLIT that is to modify the natural history of allergy, ensuring a long-lasting clinical benefit, and a consequent pharmaco-economic advantage, when patients complete at least a 3-year course of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Allergy/Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, via Bignami 1, 20100, Milan, Italy. cristoforo.incorvaia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristoforo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Sant'Anna Hospital, Como, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.affiliation: Allergy/Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, via Bignami 1, 20100, Milan, Italy.|Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Pathophysiology Unit, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Erminia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ridolo
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D010349:Patient Compliance; D063729:Sublingual Immunotherapy
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Adherence; Allergen immunotherapy; Compliance; Efficacy; Long-lasting effects; Sublingual immunotherapy