New modalities of allergen immunotherapy

Abstract

Allergen immunotherapy is a rapidly evolving field. Although subcutaneous immunotherapy has been practiced for over a hundred years, improved understanding of the underlying immunological mechanisms has led to the development of new, efficacious and better tolerated allergen-derivatives, adjuvants and encapsulated allergens. Diverse routes of allergen immunotherapy - oral, sublingual, epicutanoeus and intralymphatic - are enabling immunotherapy for anaphylactic food allergies and pollen-food allergy syndrome, while improving the tolerability and effectiveness of aeroallergen immunotherapy. The addition of Anti-IgE therapy decreases adverse effects of subcutaneous and oral immunotherapy.

Keywords: Allergen Immunotherapy; Anti-IgE; Epicutaneous Immunotherapy; Oral Immunotherapy; Subcutaneous Immunotherapy; Sublingual Immunotherapy; adjuvants.

Figure 1.

Different allergen forms can be administered through a variety of routes eventually leading to similar immunological changes. Subcutaneous – Subcutaneous Immunotherapy, Sublingual – Sublingual Immunotherapy, Oral – Oral Immunotherapy, Epicutanoeus – Epicutaneous Immunotherapy and Intralymphatic – Intralymphatic immunotherapy.