Clinical outcomes of 2-year Artemisia annua sublingual immunotherapy in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis children and adult patients

Le résumé fourni par la source

Background: Pollen immunotherapy has increasingly gained attention in China. However, the majority of existing research is limited to evaluating therapeutic effects within a 1-year treatment period, with insufficient evidence regarding the longer-term course of treatment. Objectives: Our study was designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of 2-year Artemisia annua sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) treatment in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) patients of all ages. Methods: This study was conducted as a nonblind randomized controlled trial. Fifty eligible patients (7–57 years old) sensitized to Artemisia pollen were randomized into SLIT (n = 25) and control groups (n = 25). The SLIT group administered daily Artemisia annua SLIT for 2 years, and the control group only accepted symptomatic medications. Clinical outcomes including total rhinoconjunctivitis symptom score (TRSS), total medication score (TMS), combined scores of medication and rhinoconjunctivitis symptom (CSMRS), and the visual analog scale (VAS) scores were assessed across 3 consecutive pollen seasons (2021 as baseline, followed by 2022 and 2023). Additionally, the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) was used to evaluate its safety. Results: Finally, 43 patients (SLIT: 21, control: 22) completed this study. When compared with the control group, the patients in SLIT group exhibited remarkable improvements in TRSS, TMS, CSMRS, and VAS scores during the 2023 pollen season ( P < 0.001). Especially, more patients in the SLIT group showed greater improvement in symptoms, medication use, and the overall situation. Notably, no severe AEs were reported throughout the whole study. Conclusions: Two years of Artemisia annua SLIT treatment was effective and well-tolerated in patients with ARC, confirmed by their improved symptoms and reduced medication use.

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