Allergic Rhinitis and the Unified Airway: A Therapeutic Dilemma

Inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower airways act not as individual entities but more as an integrated unit-the concept of the unified airway. This article focuses on the role of allergic rhinitis (AR) in the unified airway. An overview of AR and its association with upper and lower airway diseases is provided. AR is described in terms of its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and recent options for successful treatment. The recent use of immunotherapy and its future potential as a prophylactic method for the treatment of AR and concomitant diseases within the unified airway are emphasized.