Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a treatment that retrains the immune system through gradual allergen exposure and may do more than relieve asthma symptoms—it could modify the underlying disease process of allergic asthma, potentially reducing medication use and even preventing asthma from developing in some patients.
- Research shows AIT can help patients decrease reliance on inhaled corticosteroids and manage asthma symptoms more effectively than traditional medications that only manage symptoms and inflammation.
- Children with allergic rhinitis who undergo AIT may be significantly less likely to develop asthma later in life, with some studies showing preventive benefits.
- Long-term benefits can persist for years after treatment ends, with evidence of sustained improvement up to 15 years in certain patient populations, though more high-quality research is needed for definitive conclusions.
Allergen immunotherapy (AIT), a treatment commonly used for allergic diseases, may do more than relieve asthma symptoms. AIT could modify the underlying disease process of allergic asthma, potentially reducing symptoms, decreasing medication use and even preventing asthma from developing in some patients.
The scope of this research was outlined in the paper, “Clinical Evaluation of Allergen Immunotherapy for Allergic Asthma,” published in the journal, Biologics, Targets and Therapy.
Unlike traditional asthma medications, which primarily manage symptoms and inflammation, researchers said AIT retrains the immune system by gradually exposing patients to allergens that trigger their condition. They describe it as the only currently available disease-modifying treatment for IgE-mediated allergic disease.
The research evaluated a collection of randomized controlled trials and large real-world studies involving hundreds of thousands of patients. In addition to discovering AIT’s positive effects on managing asthma and helping some patients decrease their reliance on inhaled corticosteroids, researchers said AIT’s biggest impact was observed with the use of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets that target house dust mite allergy.
Investigators pointed to other large observational studies in France, Asia and other parts of Europe that reinforced their own review. Researchers also identified an important preventive effect, citing several studies that suggested children with allergic rhinitis who undergo AIT may be less likely to develop asthma later in life. Some long-term investigations also found benefits persisting for years after treatment ended, they noted, with evidence of sustained improvement up to 15 years in certain patient populations.
Despite the encouraging results, investigators cautioned that the evidence is not yet definitive. The paper notes that findings have not been consistent across all studies. They cited a recent Cochrane review — a rigorous, systematic analysis of primary research in human healthcare and health policy — which concluded that more high-quality research is needed before firm conclusions can be reached. AIT is only recommended for carefully selected patients with controlled asthma and adequate lung function, they said.
