In the traditional Western medical system, allergies can manifest in many ways and be diagnosed as: eczema, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, pompholyx, irritable bowel syndrome, etc., affecting different organs throughout the body. Patients then consult different departments depending on the location of the flare-up. As for autoimmune diseases, whether it's Sjögren's syndrome, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, etc., patients usually receive long-term treatment in the rheumatology and immunology department.
In the past, Th2 cell and IgE-related pathways were considered most relevant to allergies, while Th1 and Th17 cell-related pathways were mainly associated with autoimmune diseases. These two types of diseases have long been considered to be studied separately (but Dr. L has always believed that these diseases should be investigated comprehensively). This research was published in a prestigious international journal in 2025. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology (CRAI) LatestpaperFinally, a different viewpoint has been supported by academic evidence. The following is a summary of the key points:
The traditional Th1/Th2 dichotomy cannot fully explain the interaction and coexistence between allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Allergies and autoimmune diseases are not entirely opposed, but rather have the following characteristics:
1. Overlapping immune pathways, shared genetic factors, and environmental triggers (such as epithelial barrier damage and microbial dysbiosis). 2. Entities including eosinophils, mast cells, and specific IgE can participate in autoimmune processes, while Th17 and T regulators also play a role in allergies.
📑Conclusion: The coexistence of allergies and autoimmunity is the result of imbalance and interaction in the regulation of the immune system, and the two have cross-mechanisms at the immune cell and molecular levels.
The content of this paper is in complete agreement with Dr. L's long-held idea that traditional methods of treating diseases (such as dermatology for eczema, otolaryngology for rhinitis, etc.) should no longer be promoted. Such treatment models only lead to these diseases being discussed in a fragmented way, rather than being viewed from a holistic perspective.
〈The author is former Attending Physician in National Taiwan University Hospital, and Master of Science from National Taiwan University〉