Allergen immunotherapy in the UK: what's new?

Abstract

Allergen immunotherapy, also called desensitisation, is a strategic process by which the immune system is gradually “trained” to tolerate increasing amounts of an allergen, which it previously would have reacted to. In the UK, it is estimated that approximately 20% of the population suffers with at least one allergic disease. The potential to modify the disease process is no longer out of our reach for certain allergies, with the hope of improved quality of life. Immunotherapy can be offered as a treatment for IgE mediated allergic disease such as allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, immediate type food allergies, bee and wasp anaphylaxis, and can have a synergistic effect on asthma and eczema. However, it would be incorrect to consider this treatment as a panacea, as there remain pitfalls, gaps in equity of treatment, and uncertainty with longer-term efficacy of the newer food desensitisation treatments. This review focuses on our current clinical understanding and indications for immunotherapy for children and young people, delivery and monitoring within the UK, and the future scope of immunotherapy.