[Sublingual immunotherapy in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Review of 30 cases]. / Inmunoterapia sublingual en la rinitis alérgica estacional. Revisión de 30 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Specific immunotherapy consists in administering increasing doses of antigen, to which the patient is sensitive, to determine a protective immune response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive and retrospective review of 30 patients diagnosed of seasonal allergic rhinitis, all treated with specific immunotherapy. Data on age, gender, symptoms, prick test before and after the immunotherapy administration, drugs, efficacy and side effects, were recorded using the SPSS statistical program. RESULTS: 90% had moderated symptoms and 10% had severe symptoms and asthma. 33% were sensitized to grass pollen. 60% needed antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids before the immunotherapy. In a lot of cases (80%) there were no side effects. The complete desensitization occurred in 53.3% and the reduction of symptoms in 73% of the cases. 54% of the patients didn't need treatment after specific immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The specific immunotherapy is the only curative therapy. Sublingual therapy is one of the most accepted because is well tolerated, it uses a higher allergen concentration, it reduces the symptoms and the needs of drugs and side effects are uncommon.

Inmunoterapia sublingual en la rinitis alérgica estacional. Revisión de 30 pacientes / Sublingual immunotherapy in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Review of 30 cases

Introducción: La inmunoterapia es la administración de dosis crecientes del antígeno responsable del proceso alérgico para determinar una tolerancia inmunológica adecuada. Pacientes y Métodos: Se realiza un estudio descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo en 30 pacientes diagnosticados de rinitis alérgica estacional, tratados con inmunoterapia sublingual. Se analizan una serie de variables (edad, género, síntomas, test cutáneo pre y posvacunación, tratamientos, evolución y efectos secundarios) con el programa estadístico SPS-S. Resultados: El 90% presentaba síntomas moderados y el 10% síntomas severos y asma. Los alérgenos más frecuentes fueron las gramíneas (33,3%). El 60% delos pacientes precisaba antihistamínicos y corticoides tópicos prevacunación. En el 80% no hubo efectos secundarios. La desensibilización completa ocurrió en el 53,3% de los pacientes y en el 73% hubo una mejoría clínica. El 54% de los casos no precisaba tratamiento posvacunación. Conclusiones: La inmunoterapia ha demostrado ser el único tratamiento curativo, siendo la vía sublingual una de las más aceptadas, ya que usa mayor dosis de alergeno, es bien tolerada, disminuye la sintomatología y la necesidad de tratamiento y los efectos secundarios son mínimos

Introduction: Specific immunotherapy consists in administering increasing doses of antigen, to which the patientis sensitive, to determine a protective immune response. Patients and Methods: A descriptive and retrospective review of 30 patients diagnosed of seasonal allergic rhinitis, all treated with specific immunotherapy. Data on age, gender, symptoms, prick test before and after the immunotherapy administration, drugs, efficacy and side effects, were recorded using the SPS-S statistical program. Results: 90%had moderated symptoms and 10% had severe symptoms and asthma. 33% were sensitized to grass pollen. 60% needed antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids before the immunotherapy. In a lot of cases (80%) there were no side effects. The complete desensitization occurred in 53,3% and the reduction of symptoms in 73% of the cases. 54% of the patients didn’t need treatment after specific immunotherapy. Conclusions: The specific immunotherapy is the only curative therapy. Sublingual therapy is one of the most accepted because is well tolerated, it uses a higher allergen concentration, it reduces the symptoms and the needs of drugs and side effects are uncommon