Certainties and doubts about sublingual and oral immunotherapy in children

Abstract

Purpose of review: Sublingual (SLIT) and oral immunotherapy (OIT) are two variants of immunotherapy that might be especially of interest for children. After adult studies, lately many trials in children are published. However, the quality of published material varies. In the present review we analyze paediatric SLIT publications from the past 2 years in the light of a new system of evaluation of quality of evidence, the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation system.

Recent findings: High quality evidence in children: high-dose daily grass SLIT reduces symptoms and medication use; low-dose pollen SLIT reduces the development of new sensitizations. Low-dose SLIT reduces symptoms and medication in mild-moderate atopic dermatitis. Latex SLIT for 3 years results in a negative glove test. The evidence for the effectiveness of SLIT for seasonal and perennial asthma is still of moderate-low quality, as is the evidence for asthma prevention. Too high dose of mite SLIT seems ineffective for asthma. Oral allergen immunotherapy is promising for some food allergies. Some definite immunological changes are seen with SLIT; facilitated antibody presentation and IL-17 might correlate with efficacy.

Summary: Even after a hundred years of immunotherapy, it is still an ever changing field with SLIT and OIT making fast progress.