Comparison of the efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy in mite sensitive patients with rhinitis and asthma-A placebo controlled study

Abstract

Thirty-six patients with rhinitis and asthma due to mite allergy were randomly divided into 3 groups in order to receive; subcutaneous injections with calcium phosphate extracts, sublingual drops with solutions of purified stan¬dardized allergen preparationf Stallergenes) or placebo for a period of one year. Assessment of clinical and immuno-logical efficacy was done according to; symptom and medication scores, methacholine provocation tests, skin prick tests, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus(D. pteronyssinus) and Dermatophagoides farinae(D. farinae) specific IgE and lgG4 concentrations. The clinical outcome of subi utaneous immunotherapy(SCIT) for both rhinitis and asthma was satisfactory. Patients treated with sublingual immunotherapy(SLIT) had decreased rhinitis symptoms (p0.05). Total drug consumption significantly decreased in both actively treated groups(p