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Allergen Immunotherapy

  • Roger W. Fox
  • Richard F. Lockey
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Part of the Current Clinical Practice book series (CCP)

Abstract

Allergen immunotherapy, a series of allergen vaccine injections over a defined period, results in decreased sensitivity or tolerance to inhaled or injected allergens, which can be measured both clinically and immunologically. Vaccine is used to describe the immune-modifying properties of allergen immunotherapy. Such therapy is used to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic asthma and stinging-insect hypersensitivity. During the first half of the 20th century, efficacy of allergen immunotherapy was based primarily on clinical observations. However, over the past 40 yr, scientific investigations of numerous allergens and of the complexities of the allergic reaction have revealed the immunological changes required for successful immunotherapy. This chapter reviews inhalant allergen immunotherapy utilized to treat allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma. Immunotherapy for stinging-insect hypersensitivity is covered in Chapter 6.

Keywords

Allergic Rhinitis Pollen Season House Dust Mite Birch Pollen Allergen Immunotherapy 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2000

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  • Roger W. Fox
  • Richard F. Lockey

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