Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2009 Sep;2(3):136-140.

Early Compliance and Efficacy of Sublingual Immunotherapy in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis for House Dust Mites

• Chang H
• Han DH
• Mo JH
• Kim JW
• Kim DY
• Lee CH
• Min YG
• Rhee CS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has recently received much attention around the world as a treatment for allergic rhinitis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of SLIT in Korean patients with allergic rhinitis caused by house dust mites. The treatment compliance and the patient satisfaction with SLIT were also assessed. METHODS: The patients who were sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae and who started SLIT between November 2007 and July 2008 were included in this study. The symptom questionnaires, which included items on rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal obstruction, itchy nose, olfactory disturbance, eye discomfort and sleep disturbance, were obtained before and 6 months after SLIT. The patient satisfaction and the adverse effects were also investigated. RESULTS: One hundred forty-two patients started SLIT and 98 of them continued SLIT for 6 months or more. Ninety-two of the 98 patients completed the questionnaires. The duration of receiving SLIT was 9.8 months on average (range, 6 to 13 months). All the symptoms of allergic rhinitis were improved with SLIT. Forty-five percent of the patients were satisfied for SLIT, while 12% were unsatisfied. The incidence of adverse effects was 12% during maintenance therapy, although it was 48% during the up-dosing phase. The drop-out rate of SLIT was 31.0%. CONCLUSION: The subjective symptoms were improved with SLIT in Korean patients with allergic rhinitis for house dust mites. Yet the drop out rate was high despite of the symptomatic improvement.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; Immunotherapy; Compliance

MeSH Terms

Compliance
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Dust
Eye
Humans
Immunotherapy
Incidence
Nasal Obstruction
Nose
Patient Satisfaction
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Sneezing
Surveys and Questionnaires
Dust

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Changes of the symptom scores for all the patients who received sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). All the symptoms were improved after SLIT with statistical significance (P<0.05 by paired t-tests).

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  Fig. 2 Comparing the total nasal symptom scores (TNSSs) before and after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in the satisfied, the fairly satisfied and the unsatisfied groups. The satisfied and the fairly satisfied group got better, with statistical significance. However, the NTSS of the unsatisfied group was not improved after SLIT.*statistical analysis using paired t-tests; †statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

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  Fig. 3 Comparing the total nasal symptom scores (TNSSs) of the satisfied group with those of the fairly satisfied group. The fairly satisfied group had higher NTSSs before and after sublingual immunotherapy than the satisfied group. However, the change of the TNSS in the satisfied group didn't differ from that in the fairly satisfied group.*P<0.05 (Student's t-test).

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