title: Focusing the mechanism of action to dissect the different treatments of respiratory allergy.
abstract: The treatment of respiratory allergy is based on several drugs with different mechanisms of action, which encompass an effect only on symptoms, limited factors of inflammation or the whole process of inflammation. Dissecting the different treatments by their mechanism of action is relevant for the management of allergic patients. Corticosteroids, administered as nasal sprays in rhinitis or by inhalation devices in asthma, and allergen immunotherapy (AIT) are the most effective treatments for respiratory allergy, achieving the control on inflammation by a number of cellular and molecular mechanisms. What distinguishes corticosteroids from AIT is the duration of clinical outcomes that ends with treatment withdrawal for the former but persists after stopping for AIT, due to its disease-modifying effect.
authors.affiliation: Allergy/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit, ICP Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristoforo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moingeon
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buttafava
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frati
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: allergen immunotherapy; antinflammatory action; asthma; corticosteroids; drug treatment; respiratory allergy; rhinitis; symptomatic effect