One march, many paths: Insights into allergic march trajectories

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Epidemiology
• Genetics

Background:

• The classical allergic march model describes a progression of atopic diseases from infancy.
• Increasing prevalence and severity of allergic diseases necessitate refining this model.
• Recent findings include food allergy and eosinophilic esophagitis as part of the allergic march.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review epidemiologic evidence for allergic march trajectories.
• To examine the influence of genetics, environment, and endotypes on these trajectories.
• To discuss the clinical utility of understanding allergic march pathways.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of English-language literature from PubMed.
• Inclusion of articles and reviews on allergic march trajectories, genetics, and endotypes.
• Selection based on study quality and relevance.

Main Results:

• Allergic march trajectories, or distinct paths of atopy development, are supported by epidemiologic data.
• Variability in the number and sequence of allergic manifestations is recognized.
• Genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors influence these diverse pathways.

Conclusions:

• Understanding allergic march trajectories is crucial for personalized allergy management.
• Further research into the origins of these trajectories will enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.