Sublingual allergen immunotherapy

Summary

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only causal therapy interfering with the development of specific immunological hypersensitivity. Its effect can inhibit the process of patient allergisation, resulting in gradually induced tolerance against causing “natural” allergens. This year already 100 years have passed since a key article was published in Lancet by Leonard Noon, entitled Prophylactic inoculation against hay fever. Today, SIT has become integral part of standardized guidelines and its efficacy has been confirmed with evidence-based medicine methods. In recent years a non-injection form of allergen therapy has come to the fore as an available and safe method – sublingual application. World Allergy Organization (WAO) published an important document on sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) in 2009 documenting its safety and efficacy comparable with injection therapy. The latest SLIT variant after the “drop allergen” is the tablet form with standardized allergen content. The first preparation for allergen therapy in the Czech Republic designed for patients with grass pollen-based allergy is Oralair.

Key words:
specific allergen immunotherapy, sublingual allergen immunotherapy, sublingual allergen immunotherapy tablet