Immunotherapy with a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract. V. Duration of the efficacy of immunotherapy after its cessation

Allergen immunotherapy for allergic respiratory diseases

“…In a separate study of mite immunotherapy in children, treatment for 3 y, but not 1-2 y was associated with more prolonged remission for up to 3 y after stopping treatment. 52,53 This study and others 54 demonstrated that SCIT given for a short time was associated with a faster relapse of symptoms after discontinuation (1-3 y) compared with treatment given for 3-4 y. A DBPC-RCT study in grass pollen SCIT showed, after 3-4 y of treatment, no significant difference in symptom or medication score in the subsequent three years.…”

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008*

“…House dust mite sensitization and, to a lesser degree, pollen sensitization, seem to play a ÔtriggeringÕ role in the development of polysensitization, because a high proportion of children originally monosensitized to HDMs or to pollens became polysensitized. Case-control studies have shown that many monosensitized patients treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy do not develop a new sensitization, whereas those who do not receive immunotherapy become polysensitized (1672,1684,1880).…”

“…Subcutaneous immunotherapy alters the natural course of allergic diseases. Long-term efficacy of specific immunotherapy persists after it has been stopped (1672,1673,(1681)(1682)(1683)(1684)(1685)(1686). Subcutaneous immunotherapy in monosensitized children prevents the development of new sensitizations (1687) and may prevent the development of asthma in patients with rhinitis (1688,1689).…”

“…The duration of immunotherapy usually needs to be of 3 years to show long-term efficacy after its cessation (1672)(1673)(1674).…”

Chinese Guideline on allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis

“…However, evidence from a long-term open controlled study suggests that a 3-year course of SLIT might not be sufficient for longterm protection (187). On the other hand, prospective studies of SCIT with grass pollen extract for AR and HDM extract for asthmatic patients suggest that 3 years of ASIT produces prolonged remission of symptoms after discontinuation (188,189 …”