Efficacy of desensitization via the sublingual route in mite allergy.

Desensitization via the sublingual route when treating mite allergy is a new technique in immunotherapy that has aroused the interest of an increasing number of allergists. Assessing its effectiveness is difficult because of the multiplicity of the criteria used by the various published studies to determine what constitutes an improvement. But a critical analysis of the results obtained in the various methodologically rigorous studies suggests that treatment is effective when compared to a placebo. It remains, however, necessary to determine whether or not the sublingual route is superior to the subcutaneous route; its ease of use and harmlessness should not be the only criteria when deciding upon a treatment that above all else should be curative.