Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) May be Helpful in Cat Allergy

According to Spanish researchers, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) may be helpful in cat allergy.

Fifty cat allergic patients with rhinoconjunctivitis with or without asthma were included in a RCT of cat SLIT for 1 year: 25 patients received SLIT and 25 placebo, 66% completed the study.

No adverse events were reported. The SLIT group showed a marked reduction (62%) in symptoms with no changes in placebo group. SLIT group also showed a reduced PEF response to cat exposure, and an improvement in skin test reactivity to a standardized cat extract.

Authors concluded that cat SLIT was beneficial in cat allergy.

The general media came up with a much more descriptive headline: Cat dander under tongue curbs allergies.

Fewer than 50% of cat-allergic individuals report direct cat exposure (at home or elsewhere) (JACI, 2012).

References:

Sublingual immunotherapy with a standardized cat dander extract: evaluation of efficacy in a double blind placebo controlled study. E. Álvarez-Cuesta, P. Berges-Gimeno, E. G. Mancebo, E. Fernández-Caldas, J. Cuesta-Herranz, M. Casanovas, Allergy, 07/2007, pages 810–817.
Talking Points on Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) for Physicians Practicing in the United States. ACAAI.

Sublingual immunotherapy is an extremely complex issue in the U.S. - AAAAI http://goo.gl/wVOKr
A small number of people who are allergic to cat may also get allergic reactions when eating pork http://goo.gl/zVSaN
Getting a cat increases allergy risk in adults - getting one in adulthood nearly doubles the risk. Reuters and JACI, 2012.
Dealbreaker: He's Allergic to My Cat. GOOD magazine, 2012.
Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.