Conference scene: recent advancements in immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy was a prominent part of the program at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Boston, MA, USA, 3-8 November 2011. New advances in immunotherapy as well as mechanisms were featured. Recent updates of the immunotherapy practice parameters were discussed as well. The report on the safety of immunotherapy highlighted the data demonstrating that there have been no fatalities from this treatment during the past 4 years. The last speaker dealt with economic issues, presenting data that show that subcutaneous immunotherapy led to improved clinical outcomes and reduced costs in children and adults with allergic rhinitis.