The immunobiology and immunopharmacology of the allergic response.

Classic allergic reactions of the immediate type are IgE dependent. These reactions are associated with a complex orchestration of genetic predisposition, allergen exposure patterns, allergen processing by mononuclear macrophages, helper and suppressor immunocytes, pharmacologically active inflammatory mediators, early and late-phase reactions, neurotransmitters, autonomic nervous system participation, intracellular cyclic nucleotide equilibrium, cellular and molecular activity, and a genetically predetermined end-organ hypersensitivity to a variety of specific and nonspecific excitants.