title: The evolution of allergen and non-specific immunotherapy: past achievements, current applications and future outlook.
abstract: Recent epidemiological studies estimated that more than 30% of European suffer from allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, while up to 20% suffer from asthma and 15% from allergic skin conditions, while for many other regions the prevalence is increasing. Allergen immunotherapy represents the only available treatment that can modify the allergic disease process, and thus is worth considering as a treatment in affected individuals. A beneficial effect of allergen immunotherapy has been shown in both adults and children affected by allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma and hymenoptera venom allergy. The present study represents an overview on allergen immunotherapy, focusing on the principal aspects of the use of immunotherapy in the past, its recent clinical applications and future outlook.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics- Allergy Unit, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria-Gazzi, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Pajno
authors.forename: Kari C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caminiti
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hobson
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jay
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arasi
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiera
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salzano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: allergen-specific immunotherapy; allergic asthma; allergic inflammation; allergic rhinitis; atopy; cytokines; monoclonal antibody; prevention; respiratory allergy; treatment