Recently, Marogna M, Spadolini I, Massolo A et al. Long-lasting effects of sublingual immunotherapy according to its duration: A 15-year prospective study. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology investigate the long-term effects of SLIT, and the optimal duration of treatment, by studying 78 patients aged 18-65 years, with allergic rhinitis (with or without asthma), who were monosensitized to dust mites.
The participants were divided into four groups to receive mite-specific SLIT plus drug therapy for 3 (n=19), 4 (n=21), or 5 years (n=17), or drug therapy alone (controls; n=21). Clinical benefit, based on the frequency and severity of symptoms, were assessed every year during the winter months over a follow-up period of 15 years. During this time, 10 patients receiving SLIT and nine controls dropped out of the study. There was no significant change in clinical scores among the 12 controls. In patients receiving SLIT, a significant clinical benefit was observed after just 1 year, which persisted for 7 years among patients who received SLIT for 3 years, and 8 years among those who received SLIT for 4 or 5 years. After loss of clinical benefit, patients in the SLIT groups received a second course of treatment, and this induced a benefit more rapidly than the first course. All patients in the control group developed a new skin sensitization during the follow-up period compared with just 21%, 12%, and 11% of patients who received SLIT for 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively.
They concluded that under the present conditions, it can be suggested that a 4-year duration of SLIT is the optimal choice because it induces a long-lasting clinical improvement similar to that seen with a 5-year course and greater than that of a 3-year vaccination.
1 comment:
It is encouraging to see Physicians like Dr. George build awareness regarding the clinical success of Immuno-Allergy DROPs.
Let us all work to a generation Free of Allergy / Allergic ASTHMA.
Stephen
Post a Comment