title: Guiding principles of subcutaneous immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In anticipation of the development of guidelines for antigen-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), we present recommendations that can serve as guiding principles based on a review of the scientific literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical questions (CQs) concerning SCIT were prepared. Literature searches for publications between January 1990 and February 2011 were performed in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina Web version 4. Qualified studies were analyzed and the results were evaluated, consolidated, and codified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present answers for 13 CQs on the indications, methods, effectiveness and mechanisms of SCIT, with evidence-based recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The guiding principles are intended to be applied to children (≤15 years old) and adults (≥16 years old) with allergic rhinitis (AR). These principles can be used by otorhinolaryngologists for diagnosis of AR, evaluation of severity and rhinoscopic findings, performance of antigen challenge tests, and management of systemic anaphylactic reactions associated with SCIT.
authors.affiliation: Chiba University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan. Electronic address: yokamoto@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Yamagata University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Okayama University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.affiliation: Saitama Medical University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Allergy Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamijo
authors.affiliation: Nippon Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.affiliation: Nagoya City University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Motohiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Hiroshima University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeno
authors.affiliation: Osaka Medical University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.affiliation: Chiba University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Toyoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanazawa
authors.affiliation: Iida Hospital, Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Allergology, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigetoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.affiliation: Akita University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Nippon Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Musashikosugi Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsune
authors.affiliation: University of Fukui, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Takechiyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Yuta Clinic, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: University of Fukui, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujieda
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007564:Japan; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Guideline; Principles; Subcutaneous immunotherapy