***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Specific immunotherapy ( SIT ) using a st and ardized mite extract is effective and safe when administered under optimal conditions . However , the duration of its effectiveness after cessation of treatment remains unknown . Forty asthmatic subjects who had received SIT with a st and ardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ( Der p ) extract under the same protocol were studied . All had received SIT for a period of 12 - 96 months and were not receiving pharmacologic treatment .  The  FEV1 was within normal range in all patients . After cessation of treatment , patients were followed for up to 3 years at 6-month intervals . The patient was considered to have relapsed when symptoms of asthma and /or rhinitis occurred and /or when pulmonary function tests were impaired . Skin tests with increasing concentrations of Der p were carried out before and at the end of SIT . Forty-five percent of the patients did not relapse . The duration of efficacy of SIT was related to the duration of SIT itself ( P < 0.04 ) . Most patients who did not relapse had a decrease in skin test reactivity at the end of SIT , whereas most patients who relapsed did not show any change ( P < 0.003 ) . The duration of efficacy of SIT after its cessation depends upon the duration of SIT and may be predicted by the effect of SIT on skin tests Abstract In a double-blind study , we compared the effects of the Rinkel and the current st and ard methods of immunotherapy with ragweed pollen extract and those of placebo on symptoms of ragweed hay fever and immunologic parameters in 43 patients highly sensitive to ragweed . Each had a skin-test end point by Rinkel serial titration at 1:312,500 w/v or greater dilution , a 2 + skin test to ragweed AgE 0.01 μg/ml , and in vitro histamine release by ragweed pollen extract . None had had immunotherapy for at least 7 yr . Patients were matched on the basis of leukocyte histamine release to ragweed pollen extract and assigned to treatment groups . Fourteen received ragweed pollen extract by the Rinkel method , 14 received placebo , and 15 received ragweed pollen extract by the current st and ard method weekly between February and October , 1979 . Rinkel method doses were derived from skin-test end points and were advanced to 0.5 ml of the end-point dilution ; current st and ard method doses were advanced to the highest tolerated dose . The median maintenance dose for Rinkel method patients was 0.5 ml of 1:1,562,500 w/v ( 0.001 μg AgE ) , and for current st and ard method patients was 0.3 ml of 1:100 w/v ( 11 μg AgE ) . An additional unmatched group of nine similar patients received Rinkel method immunotherapy in both 1978 and 1979 . Under the conditions of this study , the current st and ard method of immunotherapy produced a significant decrease in ragweed hay fever symptom-medication scores , increase in antiragweed IgG levels , and decrease in seasonal rise in antiragweed IgE levels in comparison with the effects of either Rinkel method or placebo . The effect of the Rinkel method on these variates was not significantly different from the effects of placebo 
    Output:
    
RESULTS There is evidence that supports the use of subcutaneous immunotherapy ( SCIT ) for the treatment of perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis , asthma , and Hymenoptera sensitivity .
However , the rate of serious or fatal side effects is very rare .
SCIT is safe and effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis , allergic asthma , and Hymenoptera sensitivity .
Adverse reactions occur but , in general , SCIT is well tolerated , and the vast majority of reactions are mild and very rarely fatal