New AHRQ Review Finds Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy Safe and Effective for Treating Nasal Allergies and Mild Asthma

At least a moderate level of evidence exists to support the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy as a safe and effective treatment for nasal allergies and mild asthma in adults and children, according to a new AHRQ research review. The review’s findings also appeared in the March 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The immunotherapy was either injected under the skin (subcutaneous) or placed under the tongue (sublingual). The review found a high strength of evidence that subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy reduced asthma, nasal, and conjunctivitis symptoms, lowered the use of asthma medications, and improved quality of life. A moderate strength of evidence was found to support the use of subcutaneous immunotherapy for reducing the need for rhinoconjunctivitis medication. Strong evidence was found for sublingual immunotherapy to reduce asthma symptoms; moderate evidence was shown for reduced nasal and conjunctivitis symptoms and medication usage and improved allergy-specific quality of life. Currently, no FDA-approved sublingual forms of immunotherapy are available, although researchers and physicians are exploring the off-label use of subcutaneous aqueous allergens for sublingual desensitization. Evidence to support the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy in children is somewhat weaker than evidence supporting its use in adults. Select to access the AHRQ research review, Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis and/or Asthma. Select to access the JAMA study abstract on PubMed