Effectiveness of Specific Sublingual Immunotherapy in Korean Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

Sublingual immunotherapy in mite-sensitized patients with atopic dermatitis: a randomized controlled study

Introduction

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been shown to be efficacious in patients with airway allergic diseases. However, less data have been demonstrated to show the efficacy of SLIT in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Aim

This study is to evaluate, in a randomized controlled study, the effect of SLIT with house dust mite (HDM) in patients with mild–moderate AD.

Material and methods

AD patients aged 4 to 60 years with a Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score of 7–40 and sensitization to HDM were enrolled in the study. SLIT or control treatment was given for 24 months. SCORAD, visual analog scale (VAS) score were recorded at 6, 12, 24 month, and rescue medications were required to be recorded in the diary card. A serum level of specific IgE was tested at 24-month treatment.

Results

Ninety-six patients were enrolled, and forty-eight were allocated to SLIT. Thirty-nine patients in the SLIT group and thirty-eight patients in the control group completed the study. The patients in the SLIT group had significantly decreased ΔSCORAD, VAS and rescue medication score from 12 months’ treatment compared with the control group (p < 0.05). At 24 months of treatment, no significant change of specific IgE (p < 0.05) was observed in both groups. No severe adverse events were reported during the treatment.

Conclusions

Two years’ SLIT to HDM significantly improved the clinical symptoms and reduced drug use in patients with mild–moderate AD. SLIT may represent an additional therapeutic tool for the treatment of AD in properly selected patients.

Sublingual Immunotherapy for Other Indications: Venom Large Local, Latex, Atopic Dermatitis, and Food

There is some evidence to support the use of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in food allergy, although its role is unclear. One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial supports the safe and efficacious use of dust mite SLIT in children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, but these data have not been confirmed. Although there are several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to support the use of SLIT-LATEX, this product is not available in the United States and extrapolation of these effects to latex extracts is unsubstantiated. There is also insufficient evidence to support the use of SLIT for venom hypersensitivity at this time.

Allergen immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis

INTRODUCTION

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing skin disease, characterized by flare-up due to the exposure to allergens in patients sensitized to them. Currently, therapy of AD is mainly based on symptomatic treatment and avoidance of irritating/allergenic factors, house dust mites being particularly important. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is suggested to be the only etiologic treatment, to modify the natural history of the disease. Areas covered: The aim of this review is investigating the putative role of AIT in AD through the evaluation of the most recent scientific literature. Several studies have been conducted since 1970, with promising results in improving the clinical outcome of AD, but they often lack the necessary scientific rigorousness. Moreover, heterogeneity of the studies makes it very difficult to compare and to analyze data in a systematic review or meta-analysis. Expert commentary: As a result of the above-mentioned limitations, the treatment of AD with causative aeroallergen can nowadays be suggested only as an add-on therapy in selected patients who are non-responsive to the traditional therapy.

Atopic Dermatitis in Animals and People: An Update and Comparative Review

Atopic dermatitis is an extremely common, pruritic, and frustrating disease to treat in both people and animals. Atopic dermatitis is multifactorial and results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Much progress has been done in recent years in terms of understanding the complex pathogenesis of this clinical syndrome and the identification of new treatments. As we learn more about it, we appreciate the striking similarities that exist in the clinical manifestations of this disease across species. Both in animals and people, atopic disease is becoming increasingly common and important similarities exist in terms of immunologic aberrations and the propensity for allergic sensitization. The purpose of this review is to highlight the most recent views on atopic dermatitis in both domestic species and in people emphasizing the similarities and the differences. A comparative approach can be beneficial in understanding the natural course of this disease and the variable response to existing therapies.