Stress and allergic disease: Underlying mechanisms

Stress is recognized as an important factor of exacerbation, worsening and lack of treatment response in several allergic diseases, namely in conjunctivitis, rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis. However, its etiopathogenic mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this article, the potential mechanisms responsible by the impact of stress in allergic disease are reviewed, addressing the role of the neuroendocrine system and its interactions with the immune system, the interference with the oxidative pathway, the impact of corticoresistance and the importance of genetic factors.