The efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mites respiratory allergy: results of a GA(2);LEN meta-analysis

Recent meta-analyses documented the efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma (AA). Although SLIT appeared globally effective, the sub-analyses for single allergens provided uncertain results. This study is aimed to investigate the efficacy of SLIT with house dust mite (HDM) extracts in AR and AA through an updated reassessment of randomized controlled trials. Electronic databases were searched up to March 31, 2008, for randomized DBPC trials, assessing the efficacy of SLIT in AR and AA due to HDM sensitization. Outcomes were symptom scores and rescue medications use. For AR, eight studies fulfilled the selection criteria. A significant reduction in symptoms of AR (SMD -0.95; CI 95%-1.77 to -0.14 P = 0.02) was found in 194 patients (adults and children) receiving SLIT compared to 188 receiving placebo. For AA, with nine studies, similar results were found for symptoms (SMD -0.95; CI 95%-1.74 to -0.15 P = 0.02) in 243 patients (adults and children) receiving SLIT compared to 209 receiving placebo. A reduction in rescue medication use was found for AR (SMD -1.88; CI 95%-3.65 to -0.12 P = 0.04) in 89 patients, and AA (SMD -1.48; CI 95%-2.70 to -0.26 P = 0.02) in 202 patients. A relevant inter-study heterogeneity was detected. Promising evidence of efficacy for SLIT, using mite extract in allergic patients suffering from AR and AA, are herein shown. These findings suggest that more data are needed, derived from large-population-based high quality studies, and corroborated by objective outcomes, mainly for AA.