[Adverse Events of Sublingual Immunotherapy in 207 Patients with Japanese Cedar Pollinosis].

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for Japanese cedar pollinosis is effective, however, caution must be exercised against allergen-specific adverse events (AEs) during SLIT.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to clarify the AEs of SLIT in a large cohort of patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.

METHODS

We conducted a detailed survey, by both questionnaires and direct interviews, of 207 patients receiving SLIT at our clinic.

RESULTS

Eighty-four of the 207 patients (40.5%) developed AEs, with AEs involving the oral cavity and throat being the most common (56 patients; 27.1%). Sixteen patients (7.9%) had local mucosal swelling, but the swelling resolved in all the cases. Other allergen-induced symptoms such as nasal symptoms (29 events, 14.0%), eye symptoms (14 events, 6.8%) and ear symptoms (20 events, 9.7%) were also recognized. All the AEs were minor, and discontinuation of SLIT was not necessitated in any of the patients because of AEs. There were 52 AEs (25.0%) in the up-dose phase and 61 AEs (29.3%) in the maintenance phase. However, only 4 of the 161 patients (2.5%) developed AEs during the pollen season. Most AEs developing during the maintenance phase occurred in the first few weeks. In 60% of the cases, the AEs disappeared within 2 weeks, and in 6.0% (5 events), they persisted for longer than 2 months. There were no age-or sex-related differences in the prevalence of cedar pollen-specific IgE, or in the adherence to the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

AEs in SLIT were shown in many patients, however, the severity of AEs was mild and no events interfered SLIT.