Allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and asthma are caused by sensitization to one or more allergens in susceptible individuals. Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is indicated in IgE-dependent allergy and represents a potentially curative treatment approach in allergic diseases. The traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) has been largely demonstrated to be effective in inducing tolerance in individuals with allergic respiratory diseases. However, the risk of severe adverse events (SAE), partly related to technical or human errors, is not of little importance. The practice of administering sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for respiratory allergy, introduced for the first time in the mid-eighties is gaining increasing diffusion worldwide based on the proved clinical efficacy and safety both in adult and in pediatric individuals with allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and/or asthma sensitized to seasonal or perennial allergens. An important and intriguing aspect of immunotherapy, which is missing in conventional pharmacological treatments, is the long-lasting beneficial effect after discontinuation. Several SLIT studies in adults and children show that the beneficial effects are maintained for up to 6 years after discontinuation of SLIT. (Rita Arrigo and Nicola Scichilone, The Effect of Immunotherapy in Allergic Respiratory Diseases: Reappraisal of Current Knowledge)
Last date updated on September, 2024