Allergen immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis: updated EAACI and ARIA-EUFOREA recommendations

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only disease-modifying treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR), acting through the induction of allergen-specific immune tolerance. This article summarizes the key recommendations of the updated EAACI and ARIA-EUFOREA guidelines on AIT in AR, focusing on patient selection, treatment approaches, and practical considerations. According to the current guidelines, AIT is indicated in patients with moderate to severe AR whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with pharmacotherapy and who demonstrate sensitization to clinically relevant allergens. Criteria for initiating therapy, contraindications, decision algorithms, and differences between subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual (SLIT) routes are discussed. AIT is a fundamental component of a long-term, patient-centered therapeutic strategy for AR, requiring specialized training, patient adherence, and interdisciplinary collaboration.