2015 update of the evidence base: World Allergy Organization anaphylaxis guidelines

TLDR

The World Allergy Organization Guidelines offer a global perspective on anaphylaxis, a common and potentially life‑threatening disease, and remain a widely accessed, clinically valid resource. This 2015 update aims to summarize new evidence on anaphylaxis from January 2014 to mid‑2015 to support guideline recommendations. The update compiles recent data on epidemiology, diagnosis, management, risk factors, triggers, and confirms triggers to facilitate avoidance and immunomodulation. The update highlights advances in epidemiology, diagnosis, and management and presents tables summarizing key research findings.

Abstract

The World Allergy Organization (WAO) Guidelines for the assessment and management of anaphylaxis provide a unique global perspective on this increasingly common, potentially life-threatening disease. Recommendations made in the original WAO Anaphylaxis Guidelines remain clinically valid and relevant, and are a widely accessed and frequently cited resource. In this 2015 update of the evidence supporting recommendations in the Guidelines, new information based on anaphylaxis publications from January 2014 through mid- 2015 is summarized. Advances in epidemiology, diagnosis, and management in healthcare and community settings are highlighted. Additionally, new information about patient factors that increase the risk of severe and/or fatal anaphylaxis and patient co-factors that amplify anaphylactic episodes is presented and new information about anaphylaxis triggers and confirmation of triggers to facilitate specific trigger avoidance and immunomodulation is reviewed. The update includes tables summarizing important advances in anaphylaxis research.