Terminology of allergic phenomena

Area of Science:

• Medical History
• Immunology
• Allergy Research

Background:

• Historical terms like 'idiosyncrasy' and 'antipathy' described individual health reactions.
• 'Hypersensitivity' emerged from German 'Überempfindlichkeit', noted by Emil von Behring for serum therapy reactions.
• 'Anaphylaxis' was coined by Richet and Portier for severe reactions to antigen re-exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To trace the historical evolution of terminology related to allergic phenomena.
• To clarify the introduction and refinement of key terms like 'allergy' and 'atopy'.
• To explain the scientific basis and changing definitions of these terms over time.

Main Methods:

• Historical literature review of medical terminology related to immune responses.
• Analysis of the etymology and contextual usage of terms from Greco-Roman times to the 20th century.
• Examination of key scientific discoveries that redefined understanding of allergic reactions.

Main Results:

• Clemens von Pirquet introduced 'allergy' in 1906 to distinguish protective from harmful immunity.
• A.F. Coca and R.A. Cooke introduced 'atopy' for spontaneous hypersensitivity, later linked to immunoglobulin E (IgE).
• The concept of 'atopy' evolved with the identification of IgE, though 'intrinsic' variants exist without elevated IgE.

Conclusions:

• The language used to describe allergic conditions has significantly evolved over two millennia.
• Key terms like 'allergy' and 'atopy' were introduced to bring clarity to complex immunological concepts.
• Understanding the historical context of these terms is crucial for contemporary allergy and immunology research.