[The clinical practice of allergen immunotherapy in Mexico according to 277 allergists who were surveyed during a three-year AIT course].

BACKGROUND

There are different guidelines for the diagnosis of allergic diseases and the application of allergen immunotherapy (AIT).

OBJECTIVE

To describe how Mexican allergists diagnose and treat respiratory and food allergies with AIT.

METHODS

227 allergists who attended an immunotherapy symposium were surveyed; the topics investigated were the daily practices in the diagnosis of respiratory and food allergies, as well as ways to apply AIT.

RESULTS

The surveyed allergists use skin prick tests for the diagnosis of both respiratory and food allergies in 100 % and 87.7 % of their cases respectively; in vitro diagnosis through serum specific IgE in 55.5 % and 63 %, and molecular diagnostics in 14.1% and 13.2 %. For aeroallergens, 81 % prescribe subcutaneous AIT, 77.9 % use liquid sublingual AIT, and 1.8 % prefer SLIT in tablets; however, 45 % indicated that they would use tablets in the future. Regarding food allergens, most respondents did not prescribe AIT; however, 55% of them are interested in oral AIT and 59% of them are interested in sublingual AIT.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally, the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases are carried out according to international guidelines; besides, the interviewed allergists expressed flexibility to adopt new schemes.