Allergen Immunotherapy

Allergen specific immunotherapy is the only intervention that has shown to reduce the risk of progression to asthma in children with hay fever and reduce the development of further sensitivities.
Bousquet J, Lockey RF, Malling HJ. Allergen Immunotherapy: therapeutic vaccines for allergic diseases. WHO Position Paper. Allergy 1998; 53(Suppl 44):1-42.

Allergen immunotherapy is the repeated administration of allergen vaccines to allergic individuals in order to provide long term relief of symptoms and improvement in quality of life during subsequent natural allergen exposure.

Allergen immunotherapy is highly effective in respiratory IgE-mediated allergic disease. Immunotherapy is effective in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and allergic asthma and in patients who develop systemic anaphylactic reactions to wasp/bee venom.

Allergen immunotherapy may be combined with appropriate allergen avoidance strategies and conventional use of pharmacotherapy and should be administered in the context of overall allergy disease management.

The optimum duration of immunotherapy is 3-5 years.

Allergen specific immunotherapy has proven to significantly reduce allergy symptoms and the need for symptomatic medication, during and after end of treatment.

The treatment is anti-inflammatory, acting on the basic immunological allergic response; it is long term effective and can prevent exacerbation of allergic diseases.

The treatment benefits can be described as

Early effect

Imediate reduction in symptoms/need for medication

Progressive effect

Further eduction in symptoms/need for medication

Reduction in hyperresponsiveness/late phase response

Persistent effect

Long-term reduced symptoms/need for medication

Long-term reduced hyperresponsiveness/late phase response

Preventive effect

Prevention of new sensitivities and exacerbation of disease (rhinitis into asthma)

Immunological effect

Immunemodulation

In “Allergen Immunotherapy: A synopsis” immunotherapy is considered in relation to issues of efficacy, long term benefit and safety. This paper includes a guide on practical issues concerning immunotherapy and alternative routes of immunotherapy administration are described. http://www.worldallergy.org/professional/allergic_diseases_center/immunotherapy/immunotherapysynopsis.php