[Efficacy and economic evaluation of sublingual immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides farinae drops in patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma].

To evaluate the efficacy and economics of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with Dermatophagoides farinae drops in patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Two hundred and three patients (aged 4-60 yr) with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma induced by house dust mites were retrospectively analyzed. Eighty-six patients were treated by SLIT with standardized Dermatophagoides farina drops and pharmacotherapy (SLIT group), while 117 patients were treated by standardized pharmacotherapy (drug group). Patients were followed up for 2 years with one visit in every 3 months. Total nasal syptom score (TNSS), total rhinitis medicine score (TRMS), daytime asthma syptom score (DASS), nighttime asthma syptom score (NASS), total asthma medicine score (TAMS) and treatment charge were recorded at each visit. There was no significant difference between two groups in TNSS, TRMS, DASS, NASS, TAMS before treatment (all >0.05). After 1-year or 2-year duration, there were significant differences between the SLIT group and drug group in TNSS, TMSS, DASS, NASS, TAMS (all <0.01). After 1-year or 2-year duration, the symptom scores and medication scores of SLIT group significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (all <0.01). In terms of treatment charge, although direct cost of SLIT group was a little higher than that of drug group, the indirect cost of SLIT group was remarkably lower than that of drug group, showing significant difference (<0.01). SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae drops is effective in patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma, which may also reduce indirect cost.