Specific immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis.

Despite the existence of various scientific research on the beneficial effect of specific immunotherapy with specific airborne allergens in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, this method has not been easily accepted, as the methodology and the valuation of the studies were heterogeneous. Over the last few years, meta-analysis technology has been developed as a useful tool to globally value the results of different research trials related to one specific scientific problem. When meta-analyses are carried out correctly, they are accepted as the most appropriate way to express the results obtained from different studies. Not many studies have been published in the case of atopic dermatitis and specific immunotherapy. In this paper, we attempt to present and discuss results obtained by various authors on this topic, beginning with the publication of Strauss and Kligman in 1957. It should be noted that for patients with IgE-mediated airborne allergy, especially children, specific immunotherapy as an early treatment in cases of atopic dermatitis could have an additionally preventive nature in terms of protection against the development of a respiratory atopic problem. Specific immunotherapy should therefore be at least considered in the treatment of selected cases of atopic dermatitis patients presenting airborne IgE-mediated allergy.