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House Dust Mite Tablets Now Officially Accepted as Treatment in GINA: What Is the Evidence and What’s Next?

  • Allergic Asthma (D Larenas-Linnemann de Martínez, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Allergy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review analyzes the growing evidence regarding the standardized quality house dust mite (SQ-HDM) sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets as a valuable therapeutic option in asthma, as recently included in the treatment algorithm of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) as an add-on treatment for adult patients with allergic asthma not well controlled with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

Recent Findings

Evidence from well-designed randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials shows that the SQ-HDM SLIT tablet is effective vs. placebo in reducing both asthma symptoms and the need for ICS, as well as the risk of experiencing a moderate/severe asthma exacerbation following ICS reduction, besides having a very good safety profile and tolerability. However, some unmet needs remain that need to be resolved.

Summary

The approval of the SQ-HDM SLIT tablet by regulatory authorities in Europe and the United States and its inclusion in the treatment recommendations in GINA open an opportunity window to enhance the range of management options in some patients with asthma by using an ethology-based treatment. Further studies are needed to facilitate the more complete evaluation of the therapeutic effect of this and other related products.

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  1. Departamento de Disciplinas Filosóficas, Metodológicas e Instrumentales, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada 950 Edificio “N” Planta Alta, Col. Independencia, 44340, Guadalajara, Mexico

    Jorge A. Luna-Pech MD, PhD

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Jorge A. Luna-Pech, MD, PhD, declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Allergic Asthma

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Luna-Pech, J.A. House Dust Mite Tablets Now Officially Accepted as Treatment in GINA: What Is the Evidence and What’s Next?. Curr Treat Options Allergy 5, 424–435 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-018-0193-1

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