Selection of patients for sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) versus subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)

Allergy immunotherapy has been used to help alleviate symptoms of allergic diseases for over 100 years. In the setting of the recently approved sublingual immunotherapy, allergists are now faced with which therapeutic regimen to use in clinical practice, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) or subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). Both SLIT and SCIT have been shown to be beneficial for the therapy of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Each therapeutic measure has its associated benefits. SLIT has a better safety profile with less systemic reactions and to date, no reported fatal reactions. SCIT, the primary method of allergen immunotherapy in the United States, has a slightly better efficacy profile and readily allows for treatment of polyallergic patients. This review focuses on how to incorporate SLIT into daily clinical practice and on how to choose SLIT versus SCIT.