Sublingual
Immunotherapy Effective for
Allergic Asthma in Pediatric
Patients
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 02 - Sublingual immunotherapy reduces
symptom scores and rescue
medication use in children
with allergic asthma,
according to findings
published in the March issue
of Chest.
"Recent studies have
documented the efficacy and
safety of sublingual
immunotherapy (SLIT) in
patients with rhinitis, but
the value of this treatment
in those with asthma is
still debated," Dr. Giorgio
Walter Canonica, of the
University of Genoa, Italy,
and colleagues write.
The researchers conducted
a meta-analysis of
randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical
trials in order to assess
the efficacy of SLIT in the
treatment of allergic asthma
in children. Seventy-three
relevant articles were
reviewed, and nine met the
selection criteria.
A total of 441 subjects
between the ages of 3 and 18
years were included in the
analysis; 232 received SLIT
and 209 received placebo.
Treatment with SLIT
resulted in a significant
reduction in both symptoms
(standard mean difference,
-1.14; p = 0.02) and
medication use (SMD, -1.63;
p = 0.007). The authors note
that a significant
heterogeneity was found
between studies.
The most common adverse
effects reported with SLIT
were oral symptoms,
nasal-ocular symptoms, and
GI symptoms. No lethal or
severe systemic reactions
were reported.
"SLIT trials in children
should be properly conducted
as soon as possible,
according to the recent
World Allergy Organization
recommendations for specific
immunotherapy clinical
trials, to determine the
most effective dose and
regimen of administration,"
Dr. Canonica and colleagues
note. "Also, clinical trials
in children younger than 3
years of age should be
designed and conducted to
fully appreciate the
possible preventive effect." | 