A prospective study on the safety of sublingual immunotherapy in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the safety of sublingual immunotherapy in pregnancy, which has not yet been reported. METHODS One hundred and fifty-five patients received sublingual immunotherapy with either house dust mite (D. farinae) or a mixture of up to five allergens during 185 pregnancies. Twenty-four patients received sublingual immunotherapy for the first time during pregnancy. Follow-up data were analysed with regard to abortion, perinatal mortality, prematurity, toxaemia and congenital malformation. Two control groups did not receive immunotherapy; group A (85 patients) received budesonide 400 μg twice daily and group B (40 patients) received rescue salbutamol inhalation. All three groups were on appropriate avoidance measures. RESULTS Six-year follow-up data for the sublingual immunotherapy group revealed an incidence of complications less than that in the general population and a higher incidence of complications in both control groups. CONCLUSIONS This study concludes that sublingual immunotherapy is safe during pregnancy and is also safe when initiated for the first time in a pregnant patient.