Efficacy of Sublingual Swallow Immunotherapy in Children with Rye Grass Pollen Allergic Rhinitis: A Double-blind Placebo-Controlled Study

Specific local immunotherapy has been recently introduced as an alternative to classic subcutaneous immunotherapy in treatment of allergic rhinitis. In this study, the effects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on symptoms and medication score and skin prick test evaluation of patients with allergic rhinitis were investigated. In this placebo controlled trial, twenty four patients aged 5-18 years old with grass pollen induced rhinitis and sensitive to  rye grass by positive skin prick test received randomly sublingual extract of rye grass or placebo for 6 months. Symptom and medication scores and adverse effects of SLIT were assessed during treatment. Skin prick test induced wheal at the beginning and  the  end  of  therapy were also measured. Data  were analyzed with SPSS software. We found significant reduction of symptoms in intervention group from 21st  week of immunotherapy (p<0.05). Medication scores were also reduced after 16th  week (p<0.05), adverse effects were low and insignificant in both groups. Erythema induced diameter with skin  prick  test  for  grass  and  rye  grass  was  significantly reduced  in  SLI  group  after immunotherapy. This study indicates that SLIT in grass-pollen rhinitis is well tolerated, improves overall clinical symptoms,  and  reduces drug consumes.  We recommend  this  therapy as a safe therapy in patients with allergic rhinitis.