{"title":"Rush build-up of venom immunotherapy using a depot preparation: learning from times of shortage","authors":"Johanna Stoevesandt, Axel Trautmann","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00344-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00344-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed venom depot products are promoted for conventional build-up protocols and the maintenance phase of honeybee and <i>Vespula</i> venom immunotherapy (VIT) to improve treatment tolerability and support a sustained immune response. Published data regarding their off-label use during inpatient rush build-up of VIT are scarce.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>During a recent supply shortage, an aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed depot product instead of the corresponding aqueous venom preparation was used for VIT build-up according to a standardized 3‑day rush protocol in 59 consecutive patients. Side effects during VIT build-up and subsequent transition to the maintenance phase of treatment were retrospectively evaluated.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Local tolerability of the depot product was excellent; VIT-induced large local reactions exceeding 10 cm in diameter were documented in only 3 patients (5.1%). There was no indication of an increased rate of VIT-induced systemic reactions. One patient developing a moderately severe anaphylactic reaction on day 2 of honeybee VIT build-up promptly stabilized upon antiallergic treatment. No objective systemic reactions were observed during transition to outpatient VIT maintenance using the same depot product.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Due to their excellent local tolerability, depot preparations represent a promising option for VIT rush build-up.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"34 8","pages":"290 - 293"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-025-00344-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145698666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Therapeutic approaches to food allergies","authors":"Nora Knappe, Katja Nemat, Christian Vogelberg","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00337-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00337-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper provides an overview of the various treatment options for food allergies, including the introduction of extensively heated foods, immunotherapies, food ladders, and pharmacological treatments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"34 5","pages":"134 - 139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-025-00337-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epidemiology of food allergy","authors":"Alisa Arens, Lars Lange, Kristina Stamos","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00336-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00336-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Food allergies are associated with considerable psychosocial stress and restrictions in quality of life. While parents often report food allergies in their children, studies show that the perceived prevalence is often higher than the actual diagnosed prevalence. Epidemiological studies show an increasing prevalence worldwide, with significant regional differences. In Europe, self-reported prevalence varies widely, from less than 1% to over 10%, depending on region, age and foods analysed. In North America and Northern Europe, peanut and egg allergies are more common, while shellfish and fish allergies dominate in Asia. Environmental factors, ethnicity, genetic predisposition, dietary habits and socioeconomic conditions play a significant role in the development and distribution of food allergies. These factors must be taken into account when developing prevention and treatment strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"34 5","pages":"121 - 126"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-025-00336-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145163557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sreepreeti Champatyray BDS MDS., Saurjya Ranjan Das MBBS MD, Dhiren Kumar Panda M.Sc. Ph.D
{"title":"Oral contact allergies: a comprehensive narrative review on etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management","authors":"Sreepreeti Champatyray BDS MDS., Saurjya Ranjan Das MBBS MD, Dhiren Kumar Panda M.Sc. Ph.D","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00338-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00338-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Oral contact allergies (OCAs) are increasingly recognized in dental practice and commonly manifest as oral lichenoid reactions (OLRs), allergic contact stomatitis (ACS), and burning mouth syndrome (BMS). This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge on etiological factors, diagnostic challenges, and management strategies to enhance clinical guidance.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major medical and dental databases focusing on studies from 2000–2024 addressing OCAs related to dental materials, oral hygiene products, and food allergens. Emphasis was placed on clinical features, diagnostic methodologies—including patch testing and emerging biomarkers—and therapeutic approaches documented in recent literature.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Common precipitants of OCAs include metals such as nickel, mercury, cobalt, and acrylates, with prevalence estimates ranging from 5 to 20%, predominantly affecting middle-aged women. Diagnosis primarily relies on clinical evaluation supported by patch testing, though emerging techniques such as salivary biomarkers and histopathological analyses show promise. Management centers on allergen avoidance and topical corticosteroids, with immunotherapy approaches such as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) gaining preliminary support despite a lack of comprehensive guidelines.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Enhanced detection and recognition of OCAs are critical to improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Dentists should incorporate OCAs into differential diagnoses for chronic oral mucosal disorders and remain informed about advances in diagnostics and therapeutics.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"34 6","pages":"180 - 185"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145037181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diagnosis of food allergies","authors":"Lars Lange","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00335-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00335-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Diagnosing food allergies requires a well-considered approach from the very first step. The reason for this is the frequent presence of clinically irrelevant immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitizations in a large proportion of individuals. Equating sensitization detected by skin prick tests or the detection of specific IgE antibodies with clinical relevance can lead to the misdiagnosis of an allergy. Therefore, a thorough patient history is essential as the foundation of the diagnostic process. Another reason is the high rate of self-suspected allergies among patients due to a lack of understanding of the typical symptoms of food allergies. Patients assume that unspecific symptoms or skin changes are the result of food intolerance. However, food allergies trigger clearly defined symptoms that are often easy to ask about. The physician’s task is, therefore, to separate implausible from plausible symptoms by taking a thorough medical history and then subsequently plan a targeted diagnostic work-up. In doing so, the limitations and diagnostic potential of serological testing using allergen extracts and components, as well as those of skin testing, must be clearly understood. This article provides a concise summary of the essential steps in the diagnosis of food allergy.</p>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"34 5","pages":"127 - 133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stefania Arasi, Lars Lange, Katharina Blümchen, Nora Knappe, Katja Nemat, Randolf Brehler, Stefani Röseler, Michael Gerstlauer, Jan Hagemann, Friederike Bärhold, Ingrid Casper, Philippe Eigenmann, Alessandro Fiocchi, Ludger Klimek, Christian Vogelberg
{"title":"Severity assessment of food allergies according to DEFASE criteria in the German healthcare system (d-DEFASE)","authors":"Stefania Arasi, Lars Lange, Katharina Blümchen, Nora Knappe, Katja Nemat, Randolf Brehler, Stefani Röseler, Michael Gerstlauer, Jan Hagemann, Friederike Bärhold, Ingrid Casper, Philippe Eigenmann, Alessandro Fiocchi, Ludger Klimek, Christian Vogelberg","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00334-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00334-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>There is currently no standardized evaluation system in Germany for defining and classifying the severity of IgE-mediated food allergies (FA). Following the development of the international classification system named DEFASE (Definition of Food Allergy Severity), this evaluation system is now also being introduced in Germany and its applicability in the German healthcare system is being tested.</p><p>An international consensus was reached on DEFASE through a two-stage process (systematic literature review followed by an e‑Delphi).</p><p>The DEFASE score is the first comprehensive classification of the severity of a FA that takes into account not only the severity of an individual reaction, but the entire scenario of the disease, including the clinical features alongside patient’s reported outcomes and economic burden. It is important that an international consensus has been reached on a scoring system for FA, which can now also be used in Germany as d‑DEFASE. The scoring system is currently tested in research projects to be introduced soon into clinical practice, targeting these models to various food allergenic sources, populations, and settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"34 5","pages":"113 - 120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-025-00334-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145167377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karl-Christian Bergmann, Wolfgang Straff, Hans-Guido Mücke, Katarina Stevanovic, Torsten Zuberbier
{"title":"Recommendations for allergy-friendly urban planting in the context of climate change","authors":"Karl-Christian Bergmann, Wolfgang Straff, Hans-Guido Mücke, Katarina Stevanovic, Torsten Zuberbier","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00332-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00332-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Climate change is altering temperature patterns and pollen exposure, particularly in cities. Rising summer temperatures are reducing the well-being of urban populations: however, this impact can be partially reduced by suitable planting. Primarily, the issue is that exposure to pollen leads to sensitization and allergic symptoms more frequently in cities than in rural areas. Also, individuals with pollen allergies, especially those reactive to tree (hazelnut, alder, birch, ash) and grass pollen, experience more severe symptoms in cities due to the interaction of pollen with air pollutants. To counteract this trend, urban planting should prioritize nonallergenic, or low-allergenic plant species. Here we present a table categorizing tree species based on their allergic potential: (a) species that should not be planted under any circumstances, (b) species that should be avoided but can be planted with caution, (c) species currently regarded as allergy friendly. Adopting these recommendations should counteract a further increase in tree pollen exposure and, thus, the frequency of sensitization, especially in residential areas. This paper serves as an update of a previous recommendation for planting new trees in public spaces with allergy considerations, incorporating the 2022 GALK street tree list, which is maintained by the “Urban Trees Working Group”.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"34 4","pages":"95 - 103"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40629-025-00332-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145161166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Improving the quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis induced by cotton dust allergen through sublingual immunotherapy","authors":"Nam Thanh Quan, Uyen Hanh Tran, Thuan Duc Nghiem, Thuc MinhVu","doi":"10.1007/s40629-025-00331-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40629-025-00331-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Allergic Rhinitis (AR) caused by cotton dust allergen (CDA) is recognized as an occupational disease that significantly impairs both personal and social aspects of life, ultimately diminishing quality of life (QOL). Prolonged inhalation of cotton dust not only triggers AR but is also frequently associated with bronchial asthma, compounding respiratory difficulties. Symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, insomnia, headaches, and loss of concentration can reduce work productivity and limit social interactions, often leading to feelings of inferiority, behavioural changes, and mood disturbances. In severe cases, chronic stress may develop, resulting in further economic loss due to decreased efficiency and increased absenteeism. The cumulative impact of these symptoms disrupts daily functioning, social participation, and emotional well-being, highlighting the need for effective preventive and management strategies for individuals exposed to cotton dust in occupational settings.</p><p>To assess the impact of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on the QOL of patients who have received treatment for 36 months.</p><p>A total of 52 patients received SILT treatment for 3 years; QOL was assessed after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.</p><p>The study demonstrated that SILT improves QOL for AR patients over 36 months, managing occupational allergies.</p>","PeriodicalId":37457,"journal":{"name":"Allergo Journal International","volume":"35 2","pages":"54 - 64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147383181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}