Allergen Immunotherapy, An Issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics

One hundred years have elapsed since specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT) was first employed and found to be effective in the treatment of allergic respiratory diseases. This cutting-edge issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics offers a comprehensive review of this disease modifying treatment, exploring its history, status, and potential future. Topics covered include the mechanisms of subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy; the mechanisms of sublingual immunotherapy; optimizing efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy; preparation of allergen immunotherapy extraxcts; risk factors and subcutaneous immunotherapy safety; accelerated schedules and reducing risk with premedication (antihistamines, omalizumab, leucotriene antagonist); safety and efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for allergic respiratory disease and other indications; monitoring clinical outcomes of specific immunotherapy; monitoring immunotherapy response with immunological parameters; socioeconomics and comparative effectiveness of immunotherapy; oral desensitization for food hypersensitivity; peptide and recombinant immunotherapy; intralymphatic and epicutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy; peptide and recombinant immunotherapy; adjuvants and vector systems for allergy faccines; and future forms of immunotherapy.