QOL After SLIT in Polysensitized Patients

SPECIAL ARTICLE

Sublingual Immunotherapy in Polysensitized Patients: Effect on Quality of Life G Ciprandi,1 G Cadario,2 C Valle,3 E Ridolo,4 M Verini,5 M Di Gioacchino,6 M Minelli,7 S Gangemi,8 V Sillano,9 C Colangelo,10 V Pravettoni,11 R Pellegrino,12 P Borrelli,13 A Fiorina,14 A Carosso,15 A Gasparini,16 GG Riario-Sforza,17 C Incorvaia,17 P Puccinelli,18 S Scurati,18 F Frati18 1

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, San Giovanni Battista (Molinette) Hospital, Turin, Italy 3 Allergy Unit, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy 4 Department of Clinical Sciences, University Hospital, Parma, Italy 5 Unit of Allergy and Respiratory Pathophysiology, Pediatrics, Ospedale Clinicizzato, Chieti, Italy 6 Department of Medicine and Sciences of Ageing, Immunology and Occupational Medicine, University G. D’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy 7 Department of General Medicine, Allergy, Campi Salentina Hospital, Lecce, Italy 8 Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Policlinico Hospital, Messina, Italy 9 Ambulatorio di Allergologia di Corsico, Az. Osp di Legnano, Italy 10 Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Ospedale Spirito Santo, Pescara, Italy 11 U.O. Complessa di Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Policlinico, Regina Elena, Milan, Italy 12 Allergology, Ospedale Martini, ASL2, Turin, Italy 13 Allergology, Ospedale Regionale, Aosta, Italy 14 Pneumologia e Allergologia territoriale, ASL 2, Savona, Italy 15 Allergology, ASL 4, Turin, Italy 16 Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Az. Osp. Melegnano, Presidio Osp. Cernusco sul Naviglio, Milan, Italy 17 Allergy/Pulmonary rehabilitation, ICP, Milan, Italy 2

QAbstract Background: Quality of life (QOL) is an important issue in allergic rhinitis and has been evaluated in a number of studies that have shown how it is impaired in untreated patients and improved by effective treatment. However, there are no data concerning QOL after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in polysensitized patients. Objective: To evaluate the effect, in real-life clinical practice, of SLIT on QOL in a population of polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 167 consecutively enrolled polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis. QOL was measured in all cases with the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire at baseline and after 1 year of SLIT (performed in approximately 70% of cases using single allergen extracts provided by the same manufacturer). Results: The most frequent causes of sensitization were grass pollen, Parietaria, and house dust mites. The mean number of sensitizations per patient was 3.65. SLIT was performed with 1 extract in 123 patients (73.6%), with 2 extracts in 31 patients (18.6%), and with more than 2 extracts in 13 patients (7.8%). The mean values of all the QOL items improved significantly (P