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Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
Published in: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports 2/2016

01-02-2016 | Rhinitis (JJ Oppenheimer and J Corren, Section Editors)

Adherence to Sublingual Immunotherapy

Authors: Cristoforo Incorvaia, Marina Mauro, Gualtiero Leo, Erminia Ridolo

Published in: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Adherence is a major issue in any medical treatment. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is particularly affected by a poor adherence because a flawed application prevents the immunological effects that underlie the clinical outcome of the treatment. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) was introduced in the 1990s, and the early studies suggested that adherence and compliance to such a route of administration was better than the traditional subcutaneous route. However, the recent data from manufacturers revealed that only 13 % of patients treated with SLIT reach the recommended 3-year duration. Therefore, improved adherence to SLIT is an unmet need that may be achieved by various approaches. The utility of patient education and accurate monitoring during the treatment was demonstrated by specific studies, while the success of technology-based tools, including online platforms, social media, e-mail, and a short message service by phone, is currently considered to improve the adherence. This goal is of pivotal importance to fulfill the object of SLIT that is to modify the natural history of allergy, ensuring a long-lasting clinical benefit, and a consequent pharmaco-economic advantage, when patients complete at least a 3-year course of treatment.
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Metadata
Title
Adherence to Sublingual Immunotherapy
Authors
Cristoforo Incorvaia
Marina Mauro
Gualtiero Leo
Erminia Ridolo
Publication date
01-02-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1529-7322
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6315
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-015-0586-1

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