Effect of birch pollen-specific immunotherapy on birch pollen-related hazelnut allergy.

摘要

Birch pollen (BP) allergy is often associated with hazelnut allergy because of the homology between the major BP allergen Bet v 1 and the related hazelnut allergen Cor a I.1 Some studies have shown that BP-specific immunotherapy (BP-SIT) improves allergy to related foods,2'3 but others could not confirm this.4'5 Although a potential beneficial effect of BP-SIT on hazelnut allergy has been suggested, concrete data were not shown.6 Successful SIT might involve the induction of IgG and IgG4 antibodies,7 which could block IgE binding. This may reduce IgE-mediated responses and inhibit IgE-facilitated allergen binding (IgE-FAB) and subsequent allergen presentation by B cells.8 In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study the effect of BP-SIT on hazelnut allergy was analyzed.