Reviews and feature articlesRevised nomenclature for allergy for global use: Report of the Nomenclature Review Committee of the World Allergy Organization, October 2003
Section snippets
General terms
The revision of nomenclature proposed in the EAACI NPS is based on the mechanism initiating the reaction, which is usually inflammatory, and causing the symptoms and signs of the allergic disease. Because very similar inflammation and clinical presentation can be initiated by different mechanisms, it is of great importance for the researcher, physician, and patient to understand the initiating mechanism. Failure to do so can lead to incorrect conclusions, inappropriate advice on prevention, and
Asthma
Asthma14 resulting from immunological reactions should be called allergic asthma (Fig 1). Most cases are initiated by IgE antibodies, and if there is a wish to highlight that fact, a proper term is IgE-mediated allergic asthma. The importance of other immunologic mechanisms in initiating the inflammation associated with allergic asthma needs further investigation. Eighty percent of childhood asthma15., 16. and >50% of adult asthma has been reported to be allergic. The mechanisms initiating
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Karen Henley Davies, WAO, for supporting the work of the Committee, and Prof Carl-Fredrik Wahlgren, Department of Dermatology, Karolinska University Hospital, for hours of discussion and explanation.
References (40)
- et al.
Multiple chemical sensitivities: a symposium on the state of the science
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol
(1993) - et al.
Farmer's lung: thermophilic actinomycetes as a source of “farmer's lung” hay antigen
Lancet
(1963) Allergic and immunologic disorders of the eye, part 2: ocular allergy
J Allergy Clin Immunol
(2000)- et al.
Latex allergy
J Allergy Clin Immunol
(2000) Chronic urticaria
J Allergy Clin Immunol
(2000)- et al.
A revised nomenclature for allergy: an EAACI position statement from the EAACI nomenclature task force
Allergy
(2001) - et al.
Amalgamallergie und Amalgamkontroverse
Schweiz Med Wochenschr
(1996) Sensitivity to electricity—a newcomer among environmental epidemics
Allergy
(1996)Mechanisms of aspirin-induced asthma
Allergy
(1997)- et al.
Dextran-induced anaphylactoid reactions in man: role of dextran reactive antibodies
Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol
(1976)