title: The efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy in children and adult patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical research has shown that sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is effective and safe in moderate-severe allergic rhinitis (AR) induced by house dust mite (HDM). However, the sample size in many studies is small. Meanwhile, the controversy on the efficacy and safety in the very young children younger than four years old still existed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae (Der.f) extracts in children and adult patients with allergic rhinitis, particularly in the very young children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 573 subjects aged 3-69 with AR received a three-year course of sublingual immunotherapy with Der.f extracts along with pharmacotherapy. The total nasal symptoms score (TNSS), total medication score (TMS), visual analogue score (VAS) and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated at each visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNSS, TMS, VAS were significantly improved during the three-year course of treatment in comparison to the baseline values (P<0.01). Besides, significant improvement in nasal symptoms and reduction of medication use were also observed in young children aged 3-6 years (P<0.01). No severe systemic adverse events (AEs) were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SLIT with Der.f drops is clinically effective and safe in children and adult patients with HDM-induced AR, including the very young children less than four years old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou 570311, China. Electronic address: linxia3073@126.com.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou 570311, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou 570311, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D063729:Sublingual Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Dermatophagoides farinae; Efficacy; Sublingual immunotherapy; Young children