OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of allergen specific immunotherapy in the treatment of @entity56 and @entity2490 as derived by the available meta-analyses. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases were searched up to April 30, 2008, for meta-analyses of randomized, placebo-controlled trials assessing specific immunotherapy in @entity1576 . We looked for studies that evaluated effects on symptom scores and use of rescue medication. STUDY SELECTION: @entity32934 or more reviews evaluated the same subject, we selected the study with the larger number of @entity1 . We evaluated the quality of individual meta-analyses by following the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration and the QUOROM (Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses) statement. RESULTS: Seven of 13 meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria: 5 evaluating sublingual immunotherapy and 2 evaluating subcutaneous immunotherapy. All 7 meta-analyses reported a reduction in symptom and medication scores, although 1 sublingual immunotherapy meta-analysis did not find a significant size effect, probably because of the inclusion criteria. Heterogeneity was significant in all 7 included reviews, and standardized mean differences using the random-effects model were adopted. CONCLUSIONS: According to evidence-based criteria, specific immunotherapy can be recommended for the treatment of @entity1576 because of its efficacy in reducing @entity565 and @entity2490 symptoms. Also, future methodological approaches that consider safety and costs should corroborate this positive evaluation.

Specific immunotherapy for XXXX : state of the art according to current meta-analyses.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity565 :: ('MESH:D001249', 'Disease') :: ['asthma'] @entity32934 :: ('9669', 'Gene') :: ['If 2'] @entity2490 :: ('MESH:D012220', 'Disease') :: ['rhinitis'] @entity56 :: ('MESH:D004342', 'Disease') :: ['allergic asthma'] @entity1576 :: ('MESH:D012131', 'Disease') :: ['respiratory allergy']
@entity1576 :: (MESH:D012131,Disease) :: ['respiratory allergy']
