Sublingual immunotherapy for the treatment of allergies

  • Natalie Schellack Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
  • D Engler Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Keywords: allergic disease, allergic rhinitis, sublingual immunotherapy, clinical efficacy, subcutaneous immunotherapy

Abstract

The treatment of allergies often involves pharmacological therapy and recommendations by healthcare workers that the allergen should be avoided. Allergen-specific immunotherapy has emerged as an alternative to effectively decrease the immunoglobulin (Ig) E:IgG4 ratio. Two routes of administration are described, namely subcutaneous immunotherapy, which has always been considered to be the gold standard of treatment, and sublingual immunotherapy, which has recently been shown to have fewer systemic side-effects and improved compliance by patients.

Author Biographies

Natalie Schellack, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
BCur, BPharm, PhD Senior Lecturer Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Health Sciences Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
D Engler, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
BPharm, BSc Hons Pharmacology, MSc (Med) Pharmacy Senior Lecturer Department of Pharmacy Faculty of Health Sciences Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Section
Review Articles