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Dropout rates in SLIT trials require more attention

Researchers should be aware of the dropout rates in sublingual immunotherapy clinical trials, according to a recent systematic review.

“A careful evaluation of factors affecting the rate of dropout can suggest areas of improvement and potential changes required in the clinical practice of immunotherapy,” Melina Makatsori, MD, of the allergy department at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust in London, and colleagues wrote.

The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of the dropout percentages for 81 included studies with 9,998 patients and found a composite dropout rate of 14% (95% CI, 11.9-16).

In house dust mite studies, the relative risk for dropout was greater in placebo-treated groups (RR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.62-0.95); active ragweed-treated patients demonstrated a greater risk compared with placebo-treated patients (RR=1.33; 95% CI, 1.03-1.71), while a trend for a greater risk for dropout was observed in grass-treated patients (RR=1.11; 95% CI, 0.99-1.25), according to data.

“Our results show an overall low dropout rate, that is, below 20% in the included sublingual immunotherapy-controlled studies,” the researchers wrote “This finding can further strengthen the positive clinical results shown in these results.

Disclosure: Stephen R. Durham, MA, MD, reports consultancy with ALK-Abelló, Circassia, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck; grants from ALK-Abelló; and lecture and/or speakers’ bureau fees from Merck.