Allergy – pathologically altered body reactivity
The term “allergy” proposed by C. Pirquet in 1906 denoted theacquired change in the specific reaction of the body to
infectious antigens in tuberculosis and syphilis [1].
The classic nomenclature of 4 types of hypersensitivity was proposed by
P.G. Gell and R.R. Coombs [2]. However, the term ”hypersensitivity”
began to replace ”allergy”. Therefore, the proposal of Ring J. et al.
[3], Jutel M., Ring J. [4] to revise the nomenclature for
allergy is very timely.
We propose for discussion the definitions of allergy, hypersensitivity
and hyperreactivity that differ from the generally accepted ones.
The reactivity of an organism is a genetically determined
aggregate local and/or general variant of response of its systems –
immune, nervous, endocrine, integumentary tissues (skin, mucous
membranes) and organs to a pathogen-irritant.
The problem of changing of reactivity to external stimuli has been of
interest in medicine for many centuries. The norm of reactivityis the midline that distinguishes a diseased person from a healthy one.
Changes in reactivity can be physiological andpathological (Fig. 1). Body reactions to any pathogens can benormergic , hyperergic , hypoergic andanergic . Their appearance depends on the genetic predisposition
and pathogens. Allergy is usually associated only with increased
reactivity. However, there is a decrease in reactivity: hypoergicand anergic response, which is often observed with
immunodeficiencies, but also occurs in allergy. Immunodeficiencies are
accompanied by genetically reduced reactivity and, apparently, should be
a type of anergy.
Therefore, two main types of pathological reactivity should be
distinguished: allergy with increased reactivity and anergy withreduced reactivity. C. Pirquet [1] considered allergy as an
“altered” reaction of an organism, i.e. increased and reduced.
However, allergists are not ready for such understanding of allergy,
even if it is generally correct.