Effectiveness of high dose sublingual immunotherapy to induce a stepdown of seasonal asthma: a pilot study

There is ample evidence to support the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on allergic rhinitis, while there is less solid data regarding asthma. We evaluated the effects of a high dose birch SLIT on birch-induced rhinitis and asthma in a controlled study.This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, single centre trial on SLIT with birch pollen allergen extract (Stallergenes, Antony, France) included 24 patients presenting severe rhinitis and slight to moderate asthma, 14 actively and 10 placebo treated. SLIT was performed by a pre-coseasonal protocol, and was repeated for 2 years. The study plan included a selection visit, a visit at the start of the first and the second trea…