Single, pauci, and multi-allergen immunotherapy

Abstract

Single, pauci, and multi-allergen immunotherapy. Objectives: This paper's aim is to review single, pauci, and multi-allergen immunotherapy. Methods: Search is made through PubMed, Google, Google Scholar and Proquest Central database of the Kirikkale University Library. Results: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) modifies the immune response to a specific allergen. AIT has been used to treat allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma and also insect venom allergy. Immunotherapy can be administered subcutaneously (SCIT) or sublingually (SLIT). Patients may be mono-, pauci-, or polysensitized to allergens. Polysensitization is more common and usually increases with age. AIT is maximally effective when one or two allergens are used. There is a similar effect in both mono and polysensitized patients. However, in polysensitized patients, immunotherapy with multiple allergens is less effective compared with desensitization treatment in monosensitized patients using one allergen. This may relate to dose, or to the fact that polysensitization might merely reflect cross-reactivity to one or two major causative allergens. Conclusion: We suggest that in polyallergy, where symptoms of rhinitis or asthma, are related to the exposure of multiple allergens; would be a better subject for multiple allergen desensitizations than polysensitization. This need is to explore in well-designed experiments.