Table 1. Indications and contraindications of allergen immunotherapy.

Indications and contraindications		Details
Indications
	1. Allergic rhinitis	✓ Patients with evidence of sIgE based on an allergen skin test or blood sIgE test and rhinitis symptoms induced by allergen exposure.
		✓ And satisfies one or more of the criteria below
			(1) Limited effects on symptom relief by allergen avoidance or pharmacological therapy
			(2) Intolerable to pharmacological therapy due to the adverse reactions
			(3) Patients who wish to avoid long-term drug use
			(4) Patients with allergic rhinitis to prevent the onset of asthma and reduce sensitization to new allergens
	2. Asthma	✓ Patients with evidence of sIgE based on an allergen skin test or blood sIgE test and asthma symptoms induced by allergen exposure.
		✓ And satisfies one or more of the criteria below
			(1) Limited effects on symptom relief by allergen avoidance or pharmacological therapy
			(2) Intolerable to pharmacological therapy due to the adverse reactions
			(3) Patients who wish to avoid long-term drug use
	3. Bee venom allergy	✓ Adolescent and adult patients who had anaphylactic reactions (particularly hypotension or hypoxemia/wheezing) after insects (honeybee, wasp) sting and confirmed sensitization to specific venom by an allergen skin test or blood sIgE test.
		✓ Adolescent and adult patients (aged ≥ 16) who had systemic skin reactions other than anaphylaxis after insects (honeybee, wasp) sting and confirmed sensitization to specific venom by an allergen skin test or blood sIgE test (Mostly immunotherapy is not needed in adolescents or children aged < 16 years when patients had localized skin reaction)
Contraindications
	1. Absolute contraindications	✓ Uncontrolled or severe asthma patients
		✓ Patients diagnosed with malignancies, refractory active autoimmune diseases
		✓ Immunotherapy cannot be initiated in pregnant women*
		✓ Eosinophilic esophagitis†
	2. Relative contraindications	✓ Partly controlled asthma
		✓ Patients taking beta-blockers or ACEI
		✓ Severe cardiovascular disease (ex. coronary artery disease, severe arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension)
		✓ Completely resolved systemic autoimmune disease or localized immune disease
		✓ Severe psychological impairment or disease
		✓ Primary or secondary immunodeficiency
		✓ History of systemic reaction to allergen immunotherapy
		✓ Children aged under 5
		✓ Low compliance

sIgE, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E; ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

*Immunotherapy can be continued if treatment is initiated before pregnancy; ^†Limited explanation for SLIT.