title: Systemic reactions to subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy.
abstract: Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) has been practiced for 100 years. Many trials have established the efficacy of SCIT in reducing symptoms of both seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma due to aeroallergens. However, clinical benefits of SCIT are tempered by risks of injection-related systemic reactions and life-threatening anaphylaxis. This article reviews data derived from retrospective surveys conducted to define the incidence, prevalence, and factors contributing to injection-related fatal anaphylactic and near-fatal systemic reactions, as well as recently initiated longitudinal surveillance studies of SCIT reactions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0563, USA. bernstdd@uc.edu
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Tolly
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors