Specific immunotherapy in grass pollen allergy.

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT), first described in 1911, is a primary etiological treatment for respiratory allergies.
• Newer administration routes, like sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), have enabled large-scale clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficacy and long-term benefits of SIT in respiratory allergic diseases.
• To evaluate the safety and potential for expanded indications of the sublingual route.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of large-scale clinical trials, particularly those using allergen tablets for pollen allergy.
• Review of published data on long-term benefits and sustained efficacy post-treatment.

Main Results:

• SIT is confirmed to be effective in reducing respiratory allergic symptoms.
• Long-term data show SIT impacts the natural history of allergic disease, reducing asthma risk and new sensitivities.
• The sublingual route demonstrates a favorable safety profile.

Conclusions:

• SIT is an effective etiological treatment for respiratory allergies with sustained benefits.
• The sublingual route is safer and may lead to broader applications of SIT.