An evidence-based appraisal of the surrogate markers of efficacy of allergen immunotherapy.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

The assessment of clinical efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with respiratory allergy is highly affected by variability and lack of validated outcome measures such as symptom and medication scores. At the same time, there is a need to identify reliable predictive surrogate markers or biomarkers that may correlate with real clinical endpoints and lead to individually tailored immunotherapy treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS:

In-vivo markers, such as early and late skin reaction as well as immunological parameters such as IgE levels, IgG subclasses, mucosal IgA, lymphocyte subsets, cytokines and local and systemic inflammatory markers, have been proposed as potential surrogate markers.

SUMMARY:

Given the poor reproducibility and surrogacy to clinical outcomes shown in various clinical trials, the decreased availability in daily practice and anticipated high costs, an ideal surrogate marker is still not available to allergists.

• Authors: Gianenrico Senna, Moises Calderon, Melina Makatsori, Erminia Ridolo, Giovanni Passalacqua
• Journal: Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology (Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 11 Issue 4 Pg. 375-80 (Aug 2011) ISSN: 1473-6322 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21670667 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Biomarkers
• Cytokines
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G
• Inflammation Mediators
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Allergens (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (analysis)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Desensitization, Immunologic
• Eosinophils
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Immunity, Mucosal
• Immunoglobulin A (analysis)
• Immunoglobulin E (analysis)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Inflammation Mediators (analysis)
• Lymphocyte Count
• Lymphocyte Subsets
• Quality of Life
• Reproducibility of Results
• Respiratory Hypersensitivity (blood, immunology, therapy)
• Skin Tests
• Treatment Outcome