CRC ALRGN IMNOTHRP PDF

Preface

The first edition of Allergen Immunotherapy, published in 1991, contains 13 chapters. The second edition, Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy published eight years later, expanded to 33 chapters in order to more precisely define the biochemical and molecular characteristics of the allergen groups, the methods of their manufacture and standardization, and the techniques of their administration in the treatment of allergic diseases.

Global contributions to the understanding of the basic mechanism of the allergic reaction has improved the efficacy of immunotherapy of allergic disease. Many of the scientific contributions have come from around the world, and this prompted the addition of Dr. Jean Bousquet of Marseilles as co-editor. Dr. Bousquet, well-known for his studies of the immunotherapy of allergic diseases and asthma, has been influential in the selection of additional investigators, whose contributions are included in this third edition, and the book has been expanded to 41 chapters.

The chapters have been grouped into five parts.

Part I, Basics Details the mechanisms of IgE-mediated disease and how immunotherapy affects that mechanism and alters the course of the disease.

Part II, Allergens Describes inhalational, ingested, and injected allergens as well as those, like latex and drugs, that may have multiple sites of introduction.

Part III, Immunotherapy Techniques Describes the manufacture and standardization of the allergens for injection and their labeling as allergen vaccines as recommended in 1998 by the World Health Organization.

Part IV, Other Types ofImmunotherapy Describes inhalational and oral routes of administration, the value of DNA vaccines, anti-IgE therapy, and novel approaches to immunotherapy with inhalant allergens.

Part V, Prevention and Management ofAdverse Effects Details how to avoid and treat adverse effects as well as how to prevent and treat anaphylaxis.

All chapters have been updated and organized in a manner that will facilitate use of this volume as a reference source for the use of allergens in immunotherapy.

Particularly interesting, in Part IV, is the chapter by Li and Sampson on the possibility of immunotherapeutic management of food allergy. In their opinion, "Establishment of animal models of food hypersensitivity, including sensitization by the oral route and anaphylaxis by oral challenge, has facilitated the investigation of therapies of food allergy".

Clemens Von Pirquet coined the word "allergy," hoping it would "facilitate new research workers to study the interesting phenomena in the field." With the advent of molecular biology, this has since been realized. While there have been many contributions to the cellular and biological understanding of these "phenomena," basic concepts remain. This, despite the fact that great advances in science have been converting biochemistry to anatomy, when function becomes reduced to structure. Immunotherapy profits by these revelations.

The editors thank Geeta Gehi, whose dedication was absolutely essential to completing this third edition.