title: Clinical bystander effect exerted by allergen immunotherapy: a hypothesis.
abstract: Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT) is able to restore a physiological Th1 response and Tregs function. This effect is allergen-specific, even though it has been reported that it may also be non-specific, such as also extended to allergens not used in AIT. This immunological phenomenon may also be of clinical nature. This case report shows that a poly-allergic patient, successfully treated with Parietaria extract, also achieved a clinical tolerance towards other causal allergens, such as mites and cat. Of course, this was an anecdote, but it is reasonable to prospect the hypothesis that a bystander clinical effect may be observed during AIT in poly-allergic patients.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, Viale Benedetto XV 6, 16132 Genova, Italy. Phone: +39 010 3533 18 20 Fax: +39 010 353 86 64 E-mail: gio.cip@libero.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D024201:Bystander Effect; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant
keywords: Allergen immunotherapy; bystander effect; poly-allergy