title: Evidences of efficacy of allergen immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis:  an updated review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To update and assess the quality of the evidence concerning the efficacy of allergen immunotherapy for atopic eczema. Desensitization for eczema as a clinical manifestation of food allergy was not a target of this review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the past 5 years, from the last comprehensive systematic review of Bussmann et al., four controlled trials have been published on this topic, two using injection and two sublingual immunotherapy. The active treatment was compared with placebo, pharmacotherapy or different schedules of immunotherapy. The studies variably involved adults and children and showed an improvement of atopic dermatitis severity. Severe eczema seems less responsive to hyposensitization, and a minimal treatment duration of 9-12 months appears necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with atopic eczema has been poorly investigated in the past 5 years. The available trials have small dimension and some methodological shortcomings, in addition to incomplete reporting. Clinical and methodological interstudy heterogeneity is apparent. Only one study adopted a placebo control. The evidence of efficacy has not critically changed from previous systematic observations. No long-term studies have been conducted to determine the disease-modifying potential of specific immunotherapy in the context of the 'allergy march'.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy. enrico.compalati@gmail.com
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Compalati
authors.forename: Anthi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogkakou
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
authors.forename: Giorgio W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000628:therapy*; D004485:Eczema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens