# Oral immunotherapy with enteric-coated capsules for allergic rhinitis caused by house dust mites

## TL;DR

This study compares oral immunotherapy (OIT) and subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for treating allergic rhinitis caused by house dust mites, finding OIT to be more effective and safer.

## Contribution

The study introduces and evaluates the use of enteric-coated capsules for OIT in allergic rhinitis, a novel application of OIT beyond food allergies.

## Key findings

- OIT was more effective than SCIT in reducing allergic rhinitis symptoms after one year of treatment.
- OIT showed no adverse reactions, while SCIT caused local and systemic adverse effects.
- Nasal provocation test results improved significantly with OIT compared to SCIT.

## Abstract

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising allergen-specific approach in the management of food allergy; however, studies on OIT for allergic rhinitis (AR) have rarely been reported. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OIT using enteric-coated capsules for AR induced by house dust mites.

A total of 49 patients with AR were enrolled, including 25 who received subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and 24 who received OIT. The clinical efficacy and safety in both groups were evaluated.

After 1 year of treatment, both SCIT and OIT demonstrated significant therapeutic effects. OIT was found to be more effective than SCIT in reducing the total AR symptom score and improving the results of nasal provocation tests. Local and systemic adverse reactions were observed in the SCIT group, while none were reported in the OIT group.

OIT is an effective and safe treatment for mite-induced AR.