There is minimal benefit in using sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) to reduce symptoms and decrease the use of symptomatic medication in patients with seasonal allergic rhino conjunctivitis (SARC), according to study results.

The researchers included 13 randomized controlled trials of 4,659 patients with SARC to determine the efficacy and safety of grass pollen SLIT in the treatment of patients with SARC.

All studies showed a beneficial effect of SLIT on patient symptom score compared with placebo, however six studies did not reach statistical significance. Patients receiving SLIT (n = 2259) reported experiencing adverse events (61.3%) drastically more than patients receiving placebo (n = 2279, 20.9%).

The researchers write that although SLIT is easier to use and readily available to most people, the evidence points to not using the therapy.