Immunotherapy of asthma.

A questionnaire in 1965 indicated that immunotherapy (IT) was accepted for pollen and house-dust induced allergy. There was less agreement over its use for food and drug induced allergy, as well as acute reactions to bacteria. In spite of this there is renewed controversy at the present time. A special risk of side effects has always been accepted, which seems to vary in intensity with the country in which the procedure is performed. In France deaths are rare, but in Great Britain and USA there have been many serious reactions, including deaths from anaphylactic shock. Expression of side effects seems to depend at least partly, on the schedule of injections used. The clearest results of IT are to be found in young adult (teenage) patients, but chronic infections decrease its efficacy. Good compliance by patients is essential.