Illustrative Case Series and Narrative Review of Therapeutic Failure of Immunotherapy for Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

This is a series of 4 cases (3 therapeutic failure and 1 early relapse) in adult patients treated with allergen immunotherapy (AIT) for allergic rhinitis (AR) in our immunotherapy clinic, which treats 110 new patients per year. AIT includes both subcutaneous and sublingual routes. The current national/international AIT recommendations and the literature have been searched to identify guidance for the optimal management of therapeutic failure of AIT in AR. There is scant information available to support clinicians when treatment failure and/or intolerable side effects occur. The importance is highlighted for developing the guidance and evidence base for the benefit of this patient subgroup. The potential strategies that clinicians have proposed are discussed in this article, though it is acknowledged that these are mostly not evidence-based.