Allergy immunotherapy for inhalant allergens: Strategies to improve efficacy
Background:
Allergy immunotherapy (AIT), both subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), is an effective and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma due to inhalant allergens. However, there are many variables in how it is administered.
Objective:
To review the evidence that suggests the optimum practices to enhance the efficacy of AIT.
Methods:
Articles that reported the results of various approaches to the practice of AIT and evidence-based guidelines were consulted for guidance on what approaches would enhance the efficacy of AIT.
Results:
Evidence is presented that supports optimum dosing for SCIT, a discussion of dosing with liquid SLIT, the management of the patient who is polyallergic, considerations in mixing allergen extracts, advantages and disadvantages of different up-dosing regimens with SCIT, the optimum duration of AIT, the comparative efficacy of SCIT and SLIT, and improving adherence to AIT. Also reviewed were two approaches, the use of adjuvants and of alternative routes of administration of currently available extracts, which may be useful in the future after further studies have defined their effectiveness.
Conclusion:
Although there is still controversy about some aspects of AIT, there is literature to support approaches that enhance the efficacy of both SCIT and SLIT.
Allergy immunotherapy (AIT), both subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), is an effective and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma due to inhalant allergens. However, there are many variables in how it is administered.
Objective:
To review the evidence that suggests the optimum practices to enhance the efficacy of AIT.
Methods:
Articles that reported the results of various approaches to the practice of AIT and evidence-based guidelines were consulted for guidance on what approaches would enhance the efficacy of AIT.
Results:
Evidence is presented that supports optimum dosing for SCIT, a discussion of dosing with liquid SLIT, the management of the patient who is polyallergic, considerations in mixing allergen extracts, advantages and disadvantages of different up-dosing regimens with SCIT, the optimum duration of AIT, the comparative efficacy of SCIT and SLIT, and improving adherence to AIT. Also reviewed were two approaches, the use of adjuvants and of alternative routes of administration of currently available extracts, which may be useful in the future after further studies have defined their effectiveness.
Conclusion:
Although there is still controversy about some aspects of AIT, there is literature to support approaches that enhance the efficacy of both SCIT and SLIT.
Keywords: adjustments to treatment; adjuvants; allergen immunotherapy; allergy immunotherapy; dosing; duration; efficacy; poly-allergic; preparation of treatment mixtures; safety; subcutaneous immunotherapy; sublingual immunotherapy
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 January 2020
- Allergy and Asthma Proceedings is a peer reviewed publication dedicated to distributing timely scientific research regarding advancements in the knowledge and practice of allergy, asthma and immunology. Its primary readership consists of allergists and pulmonologists.
The goal of the Proceedings is to publish articles with a predominantly clinical focus which directly impact quality of care for patients with allergic disease and asthma and by having the potential to directly impact the quality of patient care. AAP welcomes the submission of original works including peer-reviewed original research and clinical trial results. Additionally, as the official journal of the Eastern Allergy Conference (EAC), AAP will publish content from EAC poster sessions as well as review articles derived from EAC lectures.
Featured topics include asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis, food allergies, allergic skin diseases, diagnostic techniques, allergens, and treatment modalities. Published material includes peer-reviewed original research, clinical trials and review articles.
Articles marked "F" offer free full text for personal noncommercial use only.
The journal is indexed in Thomson Reuters Web of Science and Science Citation Index Expanded, plus the National Library of Medicine's PubMed service. - Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Submit a Paper
- Information for Advertisers
- Reprint Requests
- Commercial level: Permission to use content
- www.JFoodAllergy.com
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content