Abstract
Allergen immunotherapy has been used to treat allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis (with aeroallergen sensitization), and stinging insect venom hypersensitivity, for over a century. The current standard of care in the United States involving subcutaneous administration of clinically relevant allergens for several months, building up to eventual monthly injections for typically 3–5 years, is reviewed. The use of sublingual immunotherapy, common in Europe and now an option for patients in the United States, is summarized as well.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Bibliography
Aaronson DW, Gandhi TK. Incorrect allergy injections: allergists’ experiences and recommendations for prevention. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113:117–21.
Abramson MJ, Puy RM, Weiner JM. Allergen immunotherapy for asthma (cochrane review). In: The Cochrane library. Issue 2. Chichester: Wiley; 2004.
Akdis M, Akdis CA. Mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy: multiple suppressor factors at work in immune tolerance to allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(3):621–31. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.12.1088. Review.
Amin HS, Liss GM, Berstein DI. Evaluation of near-fatal reactions to allergen immunotherapy injections. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;117:169–75.
Bernstein DI, Wanner M, Borrish L, et al. Twelve-year survey of fatal reactions to allergen injections and skin testing: 1990–2001. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113:1129–36.
Blaiss M, Maloney J, Nolte H, Gawchik S, Yao R, Skoner DP. Efficacy and safety of timothy grass allergy immunotherapy tablets in North American children and adolescents. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(1):64–71.e1–4. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2010.11.034. Epub 2011/01/08. PubMed.
Cox LS, Casale TB, Nayak AS, Bernstein DI, Creticos PS, Ambroisine L, Melac M, Zeldin RK. Clinical efficacy of 300IR 5-grass pollen sublingual tablet in a US study: the importance of allergen-specific serum IgE. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;130(6):1327–34.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2012.08.032. Epub 2012 Oct 31.
Cox L, Nelson H, Lockey R, Calabria C, Chacko T, Finegold I, Nelson M, Weber R, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Khan DA, Lang DM, Nicklas RA, Oppenheimer J, Portnoy JM, Randolph C, Schuller DE, Spector SL, Tilles S, Wallace D. Allergen immunotherapy: a practice parameter third update. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(1 Suppl):S1–55. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.09.034. Epub 2010 Dec 3. Erratum in: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011 Mar;127(3):840.
Creticos PS, Maloney J, Bernstein DI, Casale T, Kaur A, Fisher R, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a ragweed allergy immunotherapy tablet in North American and European adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;131(5):1342–9.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.03.019. PubMed.
Epstein TG, Liss GM, Murphy-Berendts K, Bernstein DI. AAAAI/ACAAI surveillance study of subcutaneous immunotherapy, years 2008–2012: an update on fatal and nonfatal systemic allergic reactions. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2014;2(2):161–7. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2014.01.004. PMID: 24607043.
Golden DBK, Kagey-Sobotka A, Norman PS, et al. Outcomes of allergy to insect stings in children, with and without venom immunotherapy. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:668–74.
Li JT, Lockey IL, Bernstein JM, et al. Allergen immunotherapy: a practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2003;90:1–40.
Lieberman P, Kemp SF, Oppenheimer J, et al. The diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;115:S483–523.
Moingeon P. Update on immune mechanisms associated with sublingual immunotherapy: practical implications for the clinician. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2013;1(3):228–41. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2013.03.013. Epub 2013 Apr 29.
Moller C, Dreborg S, Ferdousi HA, et al. Pollen immunotherapy reduces the development of asthma in children with seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis (the PAT-Study). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002;109:251–6.
Polos R, Al-Delaimy W, Russo C, et al. Greater risk of incident asthma cases in adults with allergic rhinitis and effect of allergen immunotherapy; a retrospective cohort study. Respir Res. 2005;6:153–64.
Ross RN, Nelson HS, Finegold I. Effectiveness of specific immunotherapy in the treatment of asthma: a meta-analysis of prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Clin Ther. 2000;22:329–41.
Ross RN, Nelson HS, Finegold I. Effectiveness of specific immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: an analysis of randomized, prospective, single- or double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Clin Ther. 2000;22:342–50.
Till SJ, Francis JN, Nouri-Aria K, et al. Mechanisms of immunotherapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113:1025–34.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Stokes, J.R., Casale, T.B. (2016). Allergy Immunotherapy. In: Mahmoudi, M. (eds) Allergy and Asthma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30835-7_41
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30835-7_41
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-30833-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-30835-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)