title: Clinical immunology review series: an approach to desensitization.
abstract: Allergen immunotherapy describes the treatment of allergic disease through administration of gradually increasing doses of allergen. This form of immune tolerance induction is now safer, more reliably efficacious and better understood than when it was first formally described in 1911. In this paper the authors aim to summarize the current state of the art in immunotherapy in the treatment of inhalant, venom and drug allergies, with specific reference to its practice in the United Kingdom. A practical approach has been taken, with reference to current evidence and guidelines, including illustrative protocols and vaccine schedules. A number of novel approaches and techniques are likely to change considerably the way in which we select and treat allergy patients in the coming decade, and these advances are previewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, UK. mtkrishna@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Huissoon
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000276:immunology; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000628:therapy; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000485:Allergens; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001180:Arthropod Venoms; D006633:Histamine Antagonists