One explanation is that none of the interventions adequately reduce mite antigen levels. On the other hand, Gotzsche and Johansen suggest, most asthmatic patients are usually sensitive to other allergens as well, so elimination of only one type would be of limited benefit.
The researchers are critical of the guidelines on this, including the 2007 US guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention program, which recommend several of these interventions.
"They usually recommend several measures as being effective, and provide a highly selected and biased sample of references in support of such claims," they state. "Reviews and guidelines should reflect the facts."
SOURCE: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, April 16, 2008.
