@article{Pfaar_O-2021_97839,
title = {COVID‐19 pandemic and allergen immunotherapy – an EAACI survey},
author = {Pfaar, O. and Agache, I. and Bonini, M. and Brough, H. and Chivato, T. and Del Giacco, S. and Gawlik, R. and Gelincik, A. and Hoffmann‐Sommergruber, K. and Jutel, M. and Klimek, L. and Knol, E. and Lauerma, A. and Ollert, M. and O'Mahony, L. and Mortz, C. and Palomares, O. and Riggioni, C. and Schwarze, J. and Skypala, I. and Torres, M. and Untersmayr, E. and Walusiak‐Skorupa, J. and Chaker, A. and Giovannini, M. and Heffler, E. and Jensen‐jarolim, E. and Quecchia, C. and Sandoval‐ruballos, M. and Sahiner, U. and Tomić Spirić, V. and Alvaro‐lozano, M.},
month = {mar},
year = {2021},
abstract = {Background: As in many fields of medical care, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in an increased uncertainty regarding the safety of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) aimed to analyze the situation in different countries and systematically collect all information available regarding tolerability and possible amendments in daily practice of sublingual AIT (SLIT), subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) for inhalant allergies and venom AIT. Method: Under the framework of the EAACI, a panel of experts in the field of AIT coordinated by the Immunotherapy Interest Group (IT IG) set-up a web-based retrospective survey (SurveyMonkey®) including 27 standardized questions on practical and safety aspects on AIT in worldwide clinical routine.  Results: 417 respondents providing AIT to their patients in daily routine answered the survey. For patients (without any current symptoms to suspect COVID-19), 60% of the respondents informed of not having initiated SCIT (40% venom AIT, 35% SLIT) whereas for the maintenance phase of AIT, SCIT was performed by 75% of the respondents (74% venom AIT, 89% SLIT). No tolerability concern arises from this preliminary analysis. 16 physicians reported having performed AIT despite (early) symptoms of COVID-19 and/or a positive test result for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).  Conclusions: This first international retrospective survey in atopic diseases investigated practical aspects and tolerability of AIT during the COVID-19 pandemic and gave no concerns regarding reduced tolerability under real-life circumstances. However, the data indicate an undertreatment of AIT, which may be temporary, but could have a long-lasting negative impact on the clinical care of allergic patients. Keywords: COVID-19, allergen immunotherapy (AIT), SARS-CoV-2, practicability, survey, safety, pandemic},
pages = {3504-3516},
volume = {76},
issue = {11},
journal = {Allergy},
publisher = {Wiley},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14793},
}
