title: Allergen-specific immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis and asthma. Mechanisms and proof of efficacy.
abstract: Appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) has long been used in allergic rhinitis and asthma without any knowledge of its mechanisms of action or any tangible proof of its efficacy. However, from the beginning of the era of evidence-based medicine, a number of placebo-controlled studies have been published and reached a sufficient number to assess the cellular events induced by SIT and allow meta-analysis to provide guidelines based on proofs. Controlled studies and meta-analysis concerned not only subcutaneous immunotherapy but also the sublingual route, demonstrating an effect of SIT on symptoms and medication use. Most recently sublingual tablets were proposed in allergic rhinitis. This paper reviews the mechanisms of SIT, the evidence of efficacy of SIT from the injective to the sublingual route and reminds the current guidelines.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 915, L'institut du thorax, 1 Rue Gaston Veil, Nantes F-44000, France.
authors.forename: Anaïs
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pipet
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Botturi
authors.forename: Domitille
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pinot
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vervloet
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnan
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E