Sublingual immunotherapy as a treatment for allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) commonly occurs where allergic rhinitis (AR) is present. Researchers from the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Section, Imperial College NHLI, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK, carried out a study to find out whether sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) would be an effective treatment.

To test the efficacy of SLIT in reducing symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis (ocular symptoms), the researchers looked at eight databases, including only randomised controlled trials which were double blind and placebo-controlled. Forty-two trials with 3958 participants were suitable for use, and primary outcome measures were total and individual ocular symptoms, eye drops use and threshold exposure for conjunctival immediate allergen sensitivity (CIAS).

They found that SLIT induced a more significant reduction on both ocular symptoms scores, plus watery eyes, than the placebo. Participants in the SLIT group had an increased threshold dose level for the CIAS, but no significant reduction was observed where eye drops were used.

Source: Clinical and Experimental Allergy

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First Published in September 2011

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