title: A comparison of immunotherapy delivery methods for allergen immunotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic diseases are among the most common diseases in humans. Besides allergen avoidance, allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only causative treatment option. During recent years, many innovations of this therapy have emerged.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective literature research in Medline and PubMed, under the inclusion of national and international guidelines and Cochrane meta analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In several meta-analyses, the clinical efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) has been largely demonstrated. Recently, major research activities in mucosal immunotherapies focused on the sublingual application route. There are well-documented clinical data on the efficacy and safety of this form of immunotherapy. New application routes as well as new immune-modifying agents such as virus-like particles or CpG-motifs have also been investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SIT is accepted to be the only causative treatment option for allergies. New application routes and new immune-modifying agents will allow for different delivery methods in the future.
authors: Allergy Center, An den Quellen 10, D-65183 Wiesbaden, Germany. ludger.klimek@allergiezentrum.org
authors: Ludger
authors: L
authors: Klimek
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Pfaar
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D063729:Sublingual Immunotherapy
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens