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. 2025 Mar;17(2):271-284.
doi: 10.4168/aair.2025.17.2.271.

Changes of Clinical Practice Patterns of Allergen Immunotherapy in Korea

Hwa Young Lee  1 , Sung-Yoon Kang  2 , Kyunghoon Kim  3 , Ju Hee Kim  4 , Gwanghui Ryu  5 , Jin-Young Min  6 , Kyung Hee Park  7 , So-Young Park  8 , Myongsoon Sung  9 , Youngsoo Lee  10 , Eun-Ae Yang  11 , Hye Mi Jee  12 , Eun Kyo Ha  13 , Yoo Seob Shin  10 , Yong Won Lee  14 , Eun Hee Chung  15 , Sun Hee Choi  16 , Young-Il Koh  17 , Seon Tae Kim  18 , Dong-Ho Nahm  10 , Jung Won Park  7 , Jung Yeon Shim  19 , Doo Hee Han  20 , Man Yong Han  12 , Sang Min Lee  21 , Jeong-Hee Choi  22 ; Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology (KAAACI) working group on Allergen Immunotherapy and Allergen
Affiliations

Changes of Clinical Practice Patterns of Allergen Immunotherapy in Korea

Hwa Young Lee et al. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify recent changes of AIT treatment behaviors in real-world clinical practice using a questionnaire survey in Korea. The questionnaire on AIT prescriptions and practical experiences was distributed to all members of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology in June 2022. The responses were analyzed and compared with the results from 2009 and 2017. In total, 115 responses (10.1%) were collected; 58 (50.4%) from internal medicine, 34 (29.6%) from pediatricians, and 21 (18.3%) from otolaryngologists. The prescription rate for subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) was 53.8%, showing a decrease from those in 2009 and 2017; however, that for sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) increased steadily, reaching 17.9% in 2009, 40.3% in 2017, and 46.2% in 2022. The prescription rates for asthma and atopic dermatitis increased by 4.6% and 7.9%, respectively. The most frequently prescribed allergens for SCIT in 2022 were house dust mites (32.9%), pollen (30.6%), and animal dander (28.2%), with the rate for animal dander showing a significant increase from 10.3% in 2009. Most physicians (93%) used mixed allergens for SCIT, with 42.8% using a combination of 5 or more allergens. Fifty-eight (67.4%) respondents reported cases of anaphylaxis during SCIT and 36.2% reported systemic adverse reactions during SLIT. In conclusion, SLIT prescriptions, AIT for asthma and atopic dermatitis, and AIT with animal dander increased significantly from 2009 to 2022. Serial surveys of AIT practices are helpful in identifying the changes of real-world clinical practice of AIT.

Keywords: Allergens; allergic rhinitis; asthma; atopic dermatitis; immunotherapy; surveys and questionnaires.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Reasons for not prescribing allergen immunotherapy.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Measurement of AIT efficacy. (A) Time points and (B) preferred tests for the measurement of AIT efficacy.
AIT, allergen immunotherapy; SCIT, subcutaneous immunotherapy; SLIT, sublingual immunotherapy; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IgE, immunoglobulin E; Mch, methacholine; MAST, multiple allergen simultaneous test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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