title: Allergen extracts for immunotherapy: to mix or not to mix?
abstract: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is established as a curative treatment for allergic rhinitis, asthma, as well as insect venom allergy. AIT is based on the administration of natural allergen extracts via the subcutaneous or sublingual routes to reorient the immune system towards tolerogenic mechanisms. In this regard, since many patients are poly-allergic, mixtures of allergen extracts are often used with a potential risk to cause allergen degradation, thereby affecting treatment efficacy. Herein, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of mixing homologous (i.e., related) or heterogeneous (i.e., unrelated) allergen extracts. We provide evidence for incompatibilities between mixes of grass pollen and house dust mite extracts containing bodies and feces, and summarize critical points to consider when mixing allergen extracts for AIT.
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development , Stallergenes Greer , Antony cedex , France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nony
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development , Stallergenes Greer , Antony cedex , France.
authors.forename: Armelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martelet
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development , Stallergenes Greer , Antony cedex , France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: a Research and Development , Stallergenes Greer , Antony cedex , France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moingeon
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Allergen; allergen extracts; allergen immunotherapy; allergen mixtures; homologous groups; poly-sensitization