Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASI) allows for a treatment and influences on the course of, the allergic, IgE-dependent diseases. ASI induces allergen tolerance resulting in a reduction or disappearance of clinical symptoms of allergy. One hundred years ago, in 1910 exactly, Noon published his landmark study. Since then, the knowledge of its mechanisms, indications for ASI and routes of administration of allergen is systematically being broaden. Currently used forms of allergens allow to minimize serious side effects related to the ASI, which were observed in the initial trials of therapy. This paper presents current views on the pathomechanisms of immunotherapy, rules for an application of immunotherapy and possibility of using ASI in atopic diseases. The main reason for this form of a treatment is inability to eliminate the allergen from patient’s environment with a high probability of severe clinical symptoms after contact with the allergen. The best results are achieved in case of hypersensitivity to hymenoptera venom and treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and asthma associated with allergy to grass pollen, trees, weeds and dust mites. Treatment of monoallergy gives better results compared to the sensitisation to multiple allergens. For some of the cases, due inability of pharmacotherapy or its ineffectiveness, one could consider usage of ASI for patients with allergy tied with other allergens. Currently this method is not approved for the treatment of food allergy. This paper quotes meta-analysis, carried out in recent years, evaluating the efficiency of the most popular current methods of immunotherapy – subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual (SLIT) – in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. The publications cited below clearly show that these methods are effective in reducing and eliminating allergy symptoms. This paper presents the latest promising route of administration allergen – percutaneous immunotherapy, particularly beneficial for younger patients. In the era of great advances in medicine, we can expect further improvements of ASI, elimination of serious side effects and widening group of patients eligible for this form of therapy.

allergy, immunotherapy, subcutaneous immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy, pathogenesis