Sublinguale immunotherapie bij kinderen met allergische rinitis in de huisartsenpraktijk*

Objective

To investigate whether sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in children and adolescents with house mite-induced allergic rhinitis is effective and safe.

Design

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Method

Children aged 6-18 years (n = 251) recruited in primary care with a house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis received either SLIT or placebo for 2 years. Symptoms, medication use and adverse events were assessed throughout the study. The primary outcome parameter was the mean total nose symptom score (scales 0-12) during the fall after a 2-year treatment.

Results

The mean nose symptom score after 2 years of treatment showed no difference between SLIT and placebo. The mean score in the SLIT group was 2.26 (SD: 1.84) versus 2.02 in the placebo group (SD: 1.67; p = 0.08). There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcome measures, or in subgroup analyses. The number of reported adverse events was comparable between both groups.

Conclusion

Sublingual immunotherapy with the house-dust mite allergen was not more effective than placebo in children with allergic rhinitis in primary care. The treatment is considered to be safe.

Conflict of interest/financial support: this study was sponsored by Artu Biologicals.