OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of personal sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with dermatophagoides to study the efficacy of dermatophagoides farinae drops for allergic rhinitis (AR) of different age groups. METHOD: The current study had analyzed the efficacy of SLIT in 150 patients with AR who were sensitized to house dust mites. All patients were treated with dermatophagoides farinae drops and combined with symptomatic treatment. The patients were divided into groups 1-5, group 1:17 patients (4-7 years old), group 2: 38 patients (> 7-12 years old), group 3:31 patients (> 12-18 years old), group 4: 38 patients (> 18 - 40 years old), group 5: 26 patients (> 40-63 years old). The total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) and total medicine scores (TMS) were recorded at each visit. Before and after SLIT for 0.5 year, 1 year and 1.5 to 2.0 years, the TNSS and TMS of each patient were evaluated. The dosage adjustment of immunotherapy according to the patient's symptoms were performed. RESULT: The TNSS and TMS had continuously improved significantly after SLIT for half year, 1 year and 1.5 to 2.0 years in all groups as compared with baseline (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the different age groups for TNSS and TMS during all time points. CONCLUSION Individualized SLIT with dermatophagoides farinae drops for 1.5-2.0 years is the most effective in the patients with allergic rhinitis of different age groups. And equivalent efficacy could be achieved for different age groups.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult