Allergen specific immunotherapy for atopic dermatitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe recent developments as well as the pros and cons of allergen specific immunotherapy as a putative therapeutic option for a subgroup of patients with atopic dermatitis. RECENT FINDINGS: The question whether specific immunotherapy would impair or improve the severity and course of atopic dermatitis has been a matter of debate for a long time. Double-blind placebo-controlled studies on the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual specific immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis are rare; however, a systematic review of the literature on all published studies on specific immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis, together with the results of the most recent controlled studies, provides promising results. SUMMARY: The review discusses developments and recent advances in the field of specific immunotherapy as a causal therapy of sensitizations in atopic dermatitis. The most promising approaches, outlining putative immunologic as well as clinical changes which might go along with specific immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis patients, are highlighted. Further, we discuss how upcoming clinical studies and research could help to open new avenues for specific immunotherapy as a treatment for atopic dermatitis in the near future.