Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG): Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy

Clinical Practice Guideline: Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery on February 26. This clinical practice guideline (CPG) identifies quality improvement opportunities and provides clinicians trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations on the management of inhalant allergies with immunotherapy, supporting them to provide enhanced care to patients aged five years and older who are experiencing symptoms from inhalant allergies.

“More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies annually. Despite the widespread use of allergen immunotherapy (AIT), there are multiple clinical dilemmas that exist, including patient selection, modes of immunotherapy delivery, and ongoing needs to evaluate and ensure the safety and efficacy of AIT,” said Richard K. Gurgel, MD, MSCI, Chair of the AAO-HNSF Guideline Development Group (GDG).

The CPG offers 12 evidence-based key action statements (KASs) of varying strengths of recommendation, to guide clinicians in treating patients experiencing symptoms from inhalant allergies. “The GDG used the AAO-HNSF's rigorous, evidenced-based methodology to create high-quality recommendations on immunotherapy. We hope this CPG will be a valuable resource to optimize patient care and reduce unnecessary and costly variation in AIT management,” Dr. Gurgel shared.

The full KASs and the guideline with other supplemental materials can be found here: http://www.entnet.org/CPG

CPG Resources:

• CPG Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy Guideline
• Executive Summary: CPG Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy
• Plain Language Summary for Patients: CPG Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy

Additional Resources:

• Slide Deck: Presentation on Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy – for download
• Flowchart: Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy
• Research Needs: Section from the CPG Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy guideline
• Guideline Central Quick Reference Pocket Guide and App: CPG Immunotherapy for Inhalant Allergy
• Guideline Central Flipbook 

Patient Resources:

• Patient Handout: FAQs about Allergen Immunotherapy
• Patient Handout: Treatment Options for Allergen Immunotherapy (SCIT vs. SLIT)
• Spanish version of Patient Handouts (coming soon)

Podcasts (coming soon):

• Podcast: Implications for Otolaryngologists
• Podcast: Implications for Non-otolaryngologists

Academy members can use the discount code Inhalant25 to receive 25% off the purchase price of print/digital access for the Pocket Guide. Institutional licenses are also available.

The CPG authors are: Richard K. Gurgel, MD, MSCI (chair of the GDG), Fuad M. Baroody, MD (assistant chair), Cecelia C. Damask, DO (assistant chair), James “Whit” Mims, MD (assistant chair), Stacey L. Ishman, MD, MPH (methodologist), Dole P. Baker, Jr., MD, Kevin J. Contrera, MD, MPH, Fariha S. Farid, DO, John A. Fornadley, MD, Donna D. Gardner, DrPH, RRT, RRT-NPS, LaKeisha R. Henry, MD, Jean Kim, MD, PhD, Joshua M. Levy, MD, MPH, Christine M. Reger, DNP, CRNP, Howard J. Ritz, DMSc, PA-C, Robert J. Stachler, MD, Tulio A. Valdez, MD, MSc, Joe Reyes, MS (AAO-HNSF staff), and Nui Dhepyasuwan, MEd (AAO-HNSF staff)