Smoking and immunotherapy – does it worsen outcome?
Reviewed by Suki Ahluwalia

This interesting study aimed to address the issue of smoking in patients who had their allergic rhinits treated by sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Assessment was with validated quality of life questionnaires. There were 163 patients recruited in Greece who had completed their SLIT therapy for allergic rhinitis. Data was then prospectively recorded on quality of life questionnaires which were completed before and after immunotherapy, smoking history was then correlated. The criteria for diagnosis of allergic rhinits and immunotherapy treatment is well documented here and the groups are well matched for comparison. Statistical analysis demonstrates that all patients, regardless of smoking status, show a significantly enhanced quality of life after treatment of their allergic rhinitis by SLIT. They therefore summarise that smoking should not be a contraindication to selecting allergic rhinitis patients for SLIT. 

Smoking effects on quality of life of allergic rhinitis patients after sublingual immunotherapy.
Katotomichelakis M, Tripsianis G, Daniilidi A, et al.
RHINOLOGY
2015;53:325-31.