title: The health economics of allergen immunotherapy.
abstract: In contrast to symptomatic drug treatment, which only temporarily relieves allergy symptoms, allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) has the potential to alter the course of allergic disease, thereby reducing the need for long-term treatment, the progression of allergic rhinitis (AR) to asthma, and the development of new allergies. The clinical benefits of SIT have been shown to persist for an additional 3 to 12 years after discontinuation of a 2.5- to 5.0-year treatment. It therefore stands to reason that the clinical benefits of SIT also extend to economic benefits. A growing number of studies have evaluated the economic benefits of SIT in patients with AR and/or asthma. The authors critically examine each of these studies published from 1995 to present.
authors.affiliation: BioMedEcon, LLC, Moss Beach, PO Box, 129 Moss Beach, CA 94038, USA. CHankin@biomedecon.com
authors.forename: Cheryl S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hankin
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bronstone
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000628:therapy*