Allergology and clinical immunology--XVII International Congress.

A quarter of the world's population has a genetic predisposition to atopy and suffers from one kind of allergy or another. Allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis, were first identified as being important at the beginning of the 20th century. Since the discovery of allergens as agents that induce 'reaginic' (now known as IgE) antibodies, there have been spectacular advances in our knowledge of the various effector cells and molecules involved in allergic diseases. This international meeting, held every three years, provides a forum for the discussion of major advances in the field. There was no unifying theme, and the topics covered range from epidemiology and genetics, effector cells and molecules, to immunomodulatory and pharmacotherapeutic treatment.