Allergen immunotherapy for birch-apple syndrome: what do we know?. (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Incorvaia, Cristoforo; Ridolo, Erminia; Mauro, Marina; Russello, Marina; Pastorello, Elide
• Is Part Of: Immunotherapy. Volume 9:Number 15(2017)
• Page Start: 1271
• Page End: 1278
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: allergen immunotherapy -- apple -- birch-apple syndrome -- birch pollen -- cross-reactivity -- pathogenesis-related proteins; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.37
• DOI: 10.2217/imt-2017-0040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-743X

Abstract

Apple allergy is common in patients allergic to birch pollen, and this is defined as 'birch-apple syndrome'. Allergens responsible for cross-reactivity belong to the pathogenesis-related-10 family, and high homology in the amino acid sequences of the major allergens Bet v 1 from birch and Mal d 1 from apple has been demonstrated. Here we review the literature on the treatment of birch-apple syndrome by allergen immunotherapy. The only allergen immunotherapy method available thus far is based on the administration of birch-pollen extracts, through the subcutaneous or sublingual route, to induce tolerance to Bet v1 and to the homologous allergen Mal d 1. However, the studies performed thus far show modest efficacy, and thus other methods of immunotherapy should be investigated.