title: Effects of specific allergen immunotherapy on biological markers and clinical parameters in asthmatic children: a controlled-real life study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment able to change the natural course of allergic diseases. We aimed at investigating the clinical efficacy of SLITOR (Serbian registered vaccine for sublingual allergen specific immunotherapy).
  
  
  METHODS
  7-18 years old children with allergic asthma and rhinitis were enrolled and addressed to the active (AIT plus pharmacological treatment) or control (standard pharmacological treatment only) group. Clinical and medications scores, lung function and exhaled FeNO were measured at baseline and at every follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in both nasal and asthma symptom scores as well as in medication score in SLIT group. SLIT showed an important influence on lung function and airway inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed that SLITOR was effective not only in terms of patient reported outcomes but an improvement of pulmonary function and decrease of lower airway inflammation were also observed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Science, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 64, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Djuric-Filipovic
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit and Asthma Center, Verona University and General Hospital, Piazzale Stefani 1, 37126 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caminati
authors.affiliation: Institution for Emergency Medical Care, Bulevar Franša Depera 5, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Filipovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Strada Nuova 65, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvottini
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical Center "Dr. Dragiša Mišović", Belgrade, Pilota Mihajla Tepica 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.|Faculty of Pharmacy, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, Trg Mladenca 5, 2100, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zivkovic
keywords: Allergen specific immunotherapy; Asthma; Childhood; exhaled NO