Subcutaneous specific immunotherapy versus sublingual immunotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is the most common bronchial condition in children. Allergy is its most common cause. Specific allergen immunotherapy is the only etiologic and curative treatment for type 1 hypersensitivity. Patients and methods: This twelve years comparative, retrospective and descriptive study concerns patients treated for allergic conditions. Among seventy five patients, fifty six received the subcutaneous route while nineteen received sublingual immunotherapy. Results and discussion: 53% of the patients treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy have become asymptomatic without needing medical treatment, 29% of them were still having occasional inconveniences and the relapse rate was 9%. For sublingual immunotherapy, 47% of the patients became asymptomatic, 32% needed intermittent medical treatment and the relapse rate was 5%. In our study, adherence to the desensitization cure was estimated to 75% for the subcutaneous route versus 63% for the sublingual one. Comparing the clinical efficiency of the two routes was difficult, the benefit /risk ratio of the subcutaneous route decreases in favor of the sublingual one with a favorable safety profile, easier home administration, less serious and less frequent adverse effects. Conclusion:  The choice of a route of administration is dependent on variable factors and has to be picked and adapted according to the patients needs.