Molecular allergy diagnosis: we need to become more knowledgeable.

In recent publications in the New England Journal of Medicine (concerning medicine in general), the authors state “the fundamental idea behind personalized medicine: coupling established clinical–pathological indexes with state of-the-art molecular profiling to create diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies precisely tailored to each patient's requirements—hence the term ‘precision medicine.'” In the Annals, molecular allergy (MA) appears as welcome in traditional clinical allergy practice as the proverbial bull in a china shop, as it modifies a large number of well-established rules and beliefs. A large number of allergists have relived the experience of clinical immunologists when the first cluster of differentiation classifications entered into their clinical practice. MA language is sometimes cryptic and, for molecular allergists, being more intelligible is mandatory. For this reason, the general rules and idioms should be explained to allow “traditional” allergists to take advantage of these new (and exciting) diagnostic tools.

Giovanni Melioli, Giorgio Walter Canonica.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Volume 108, Issue 6 , Page 387, June 2012