Role of sublingual immunotherapy and probiotics in clinical improvements of childhood asthma

Abstract

Background Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an effective secondary prevention to improve natural course of asthma. Its efficacy is limited to allergic asthma caused by inhalant allergen. Recent studies showed that probiotic as immunomodulator decreases inflammatory process induced by food allergy. No suf- ficient clinical evidence reported about the efficacy of combination sublingual immunotherapy and probiotics or probiotics only in clinical improvement of childhood asthma. Objective To investigate the role of SLIT and probiotic on clinical parameters of childhood asthma (FEVl reversibility, medication score, and symptom score). Methods A randomized single blind clinical trial was conducted on 6-17 year-old asthmatic children sensitive to food and aero- allergens. Subjects were allocated to Group A receiving SLIT, Group B receiving probiotics and SLIT, Group C receiving probiot- ics only. All parameters were evaluated in week 0 untill4. Results FEVl reversibility improved in all groups. Medication score and symptom score was also decreased in all groups. The most marked decrease of FEVl reversibility and symptom score were found in probiotics group. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference of each parameter between groups were not significant. Conclusion Combination of SLIT and probiotics and probiot- ics are only similarly effective to improve clinical symptoms as childhood asthma. Hence, information about probiotics as im- munomodulator was proved to be an excellent alternative therapy for childhood asthma has been obtained.

Keywords

• asthma allergy
• sublingual immunotherapy
• probiotics
• medication score
• symptom score
• FEV1 reversibility