Background Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is clinically effective, but, as any other long-term treatment, faces the problem of adherence. Measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive exam for assessing inflammation in asthma. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether repeated FeNO measurements could increase adherence to SLIT. Methods Forty-four patients (23 males and 21 females, mean age 25.5 years ± 12.9) with allergic rhinitis undergoing SLIT for house dust mites (HDM), were included in the study. They were divided in 2 groups: patients performing at least 2 FeNO measurements (FeNO-group) vs. patients who had never measured FeNO or had only one measurement (noFeNO-group). To evaluate adherence to therapy, we considered allergen immunotherapy renewal rate (number of vials) as a parameter. Results The FeNO-group showed a significant higher renewal rate compared to the noFeNO-group, both in the first year and for all the duration of SLIT. Conclusion We found a correlation between FeNO measurement and adherence to SLIT in terms of product reorders. These findings suggest that monitoring the disease with a clear numeric parameter, as FeNO, may help patients to understand their disease state and motivate their continuation of immunotherapy.
FeNO measurement as a new tool for increasing patient's adherence to SLIT
DI CARA, GIUSEPPE;
2014
Abstract
Background Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is clinically effective, but, as any other long-term treatment, faces the problem of adherence. Measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive exam for assessing inflammation in asthma. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether repeated FeNO measurements could increase adherence to SLIT. Methods Forty-four patients (23 males and 21 females, mean age 25.5 years ± 12.9) with allergic rhinitis undergoing SLIT for house dust mites (HDM), were included in the study. They were divided in 2 groups: patients performing at least 2 FeNO measurements (FeNO-group) vs. patients who had never measured FeNO or had only one measurement (noFeNO-group). To evaluate adherence to therapy, we considered allergen immunotherapy renewal rate (number of vials) as a parameter. Results The FeNO-group showed a significant higher renewal rate compared to the noFeNO-group, both in the first year and for all the duration of SLIT. Conclusion We found a correlation between FeNO measurement and adherence to SLIT in terms of product reorders. These findings suggest that monitoring the disease with a clear numeric parameter, as FeNO, may help patients to understand their disease state and motivate their continuation of immunotherapy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
