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SLIT’s Prevention of the Allergic March

  • Rhinitis (JJ Oppenheimer and J Corren, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The progression of atopic disorders from atopic dermatitis in infants to allergic rhinitis and asthma in children, adolescents, and adults defines the allergy march. Allergen immunotherapy is the only causal treatment altering the immunological mechanism underlying the allergic diseases. The sublingual administration route is more acceptable than the subcutaneous one in pediatric age.

Recent Findings

Several studies show the efficacy and safety profile of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for the treatment of respiratory allergy diseases, but few data are available on its effect of primary and secondary prevention of allergic disease.

Summary

The purpose of this manuscript is to review the latest studies addressing the effect of SLIT on the development of new sensitizations in not sensitized or already sensitized patients and progression of the allergy march.

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Abbreviations

SLIT:

sublingual immunotherapy

AD:

atopic dermatitis

AR:

allergic rhinitis

SIT:

specific allergen immunotherapy

AIT:

allergen immunotherapy

SCIT:

subcutaneous immunotherapy

WHO:

World Health Organization

EAACI:

European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

TEWL:

transepidermal water loss

TSLP:

thymic stromal lymphopoietin

DBPC:

double-blind placebo control

RCTs:

randomized clinical trials

HDM:

house dust mite

TGF-b:

transforming growth factor

CCTs:

controlled clinical trials

OIT:

oral immunotherapy

EPIT:

epicutaneous immunotherapy

QoL:

quality of life

EE:

eosinophilic esophagitis

FA:

food allergy

JCP:

Japanese cedar pollen

MCh:

methacholine

ECP:

eosinophil cationic protein

SPT:

skin prick tests

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Respiratory Unit, Pediatric Pulmonology & Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit, Sleep and Long Term Ventilation Unit, Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy

    Federica Porcaro

  2. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, A.O.U.P. “P. Giaccone”, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via Alfonso Giordano n. 3, 90127, Palermo, Italy

    Giovanni Corsello

  3. Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Giovanni Battista Pajno

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  1. Federica Porcaro
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  2. Giovanni Corsello
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  3. Giovanni Battista Pajno
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Correspondence to Federica Porcaro.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Rhinitis

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Porcaro, F., Corsello, G. & Pajno, G.B. SLIT’s Prevention of the Allergic March. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 18, 31 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-018-0785-7

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