Legends of Allergy and Immunology: Antonino Romano
Authors: María J. Torres, Patrizia Bonadonna, Jean‐Louis Guéant
Journal: Allergy (2025)

Professor Romano (Figure 1) was born in Centuripe, Italy. In 1973, he graduated in Medicine from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome. He taught at the same university from 1980 until his retirement in July 2019, starting as a Researcher and later becoming an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in 2003. His clinical work has been closely related to his clinical research activity. From 1974 to 1989, he worked at the Allergy Service of the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Rome, and since 1990, at the Allergy Unit of the Columbus Hospital. In 1996, on behalf of the Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, he established the local research center on hypersensitivity reactions to drugs (HRDs) and directed it until his retirement. His Allergy Unit has become a reference center for HRDs and for training colleagues from all of Europe. Prof. Romano founded an allergology center at the Columbus integrated complex in Rome (Italy), gaining national and international recognition (Table 1). Demonstration of specific desensitizing treatment in drug allergy is possible. (Allergol Immunopathol, 1979;7(5)373–6) Significant contributions in the allergological workup and management of immediate and delayed reactions to betalactam antibiotics in adults and children. (Allergol Immunopathol. 1987;15(1):1–5; J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999;103(6):1186–90; 2012;129(4):1166–9; Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2002;129(2):169–74; Clin Exp Allergy. 2005;35(9):1234–42; Pediatrics. 2008;122(3):521–7; Allergy. 2009;64(2):183–93; 2009;64(8):1233–5; 2014;69(6):806–9; 2019;74(9):1817–1819; 2020;75(6):1300–1315; Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2012;23(8):785–91; 2016;27(5):533–8; J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2014;2(1):3–12; 2022;10(12):3238-3248.e2; 2021;9(10):3697–3704) Highlight of the importance of the amino group in delayed hypersensitivity reactions to aminopenicillins and suggest the lesser importance of time of testing in delayed hypersensitivity. (Allergy. 1995;50(2):113–8) Demonstration that in a population of penicillin-allergic patients from Italy, ampicillin was the main drug inducing the allergic reaction. (Allergy. 1997;52(1):89–93) Relevant contribution in numerous studies focused on specificity, selectivity and cross-reactivity in immediate reactions to penicillins and cephalosporins. (Clin Exp Allergy. 1997;27(12):1425–31; J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998;101(4 Pt 1):564–5; 2000;106(6):1177–83; 2010;126(5):994–9; 2015;136(3):685-691.e3; Allergy. 1999;54(9):936–43; 2000;55(4):415–6; 2000;55(8):787; 2001;56(1):84–5; 2008;63(2):237–40; 2010;65(9):1104–7; 2013;68(12):1618–21; J Mol Recognit. 2003;16(3):148–56; Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(1):16–22; J Asthma Allergy. 2021;14:31–46; J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(5):1662–1672) Demonstration that subjects who develop simultaneously IgE and IgG antibodies to penicillins show different specificities. (Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1997;113(1–3):342–4) Demonstration that patients with selective response to amoxicillin tended to lose sensitivity faster than cross-reactors, supporting the existence of at least 2 distinct types of IgE response. (J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999;103(5 Pt 1):918–24) Genetic association studies in hypersensitivity reactions to betalactam antibiotics. (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1998;80(5):433–7; Genomics. 2006;16(10):713–9; Allergy. 2013;68(8):1076–80; 2022;77(6):1827–1834; J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(1):253–9; Pharmacogenomics J. 2016;16(1):79–82; Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2019;106(5):1028–1036; J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;147(5):1830–1837) Evaluation and Updated Classification of Acute Hypersensitivity Reactions to Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): NSAID-Exacerbated or -Induced Food Allergy. (J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023;11(6):1843-1853.e1) Studies of drug tolerability in patients with hypersensitivity to penicillins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005;137(2):145–50; 2007;143(2):103–8; Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;124(1):167–9; J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(6):1989-1993.e2) Classification and practical approach to the diagnosis and management of hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (Allergy. 2013;68(10):1219–32) Detection of nasal specific IgE in rhinitis patients. (Allergol Immunopathol. 1990;18(1):1–4) Studies of diagnostic work-up for food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis. (Allergy. 1995;50(10):817–24; Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2001;125(3):264–72; Clin Exp Allergy. 2012;42(11):1643–53) Significant contribution to European Network for Drug Allergy (ENDA); EAACI interest group on drug hypersensitivity. (Allergy. 2003;58(9):854–63; 2003;58(10):961–72; 2004;59(11):1153–60; 2005;60(2):150–8; 2010;65(11):1357–66; 2013;68(6):702–12; 2013;68(7):844–52; 2015;70(7):755–63; 2016;71(4):443–62; 2016;71(8):1103–34; 2016;71(11):1533–1539; 2022;77(8):2292–2312; 2011;66(7):818–29) Identifying genetic determinants in patients with either IgE-mediated or T-cell-mediated hypersensitivity to beta-lactams. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1998;80(5):433–7; Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2006;16(10):713–9; Pharmacogenomics J. 2008;8(2):162–8; Allergy. 2013;68(8):1076–80; Allergy. 2012;67(9):1181–5; J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(1):253–9; Pharmacogenomics J. 2016;16(1):79–82; J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;147(5):1830–1837; Allergy. 2022;77(6):1827–1834 During his research career, he has established numerous national and international collaborations. Concerning hypersensitivity to NSAIDs, Prof. Romano demonstrated valid alternatives for patients with such hypersensitivity. He chaired the World Allergy Organization (WAO) Task Force "Updating the classification and routine diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity reactions." The proliferous scientific and educational activities have been reflected in numerous presentations at Italian and international conferences, as well as in over 600 publications, including 319 in journals indexed with high impact factors. He is a co-author of numerous EAACI/Drug Allergy Interest Group (DAIG) position papers, guidelines, and rostrums on the diagnosis and management of HRDs. The scientific activity of Prof. Romano has also been carried out together with an intense organizing commitment in Società Italiana di Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, EAACI/DAIG; ILSI Europe; AAAAI; and WAO. He is at present a consultant at Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina (Italy). With these words, we would like to thank Prof. Romano for his friendship, teachings, and dedication to the growth of the specialty of allergology. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.