This protocol was drafted by S Dhami and the search strategy was developed by U. Nurmatov. It was revised following critical review initially by A. Sheikh, E.-V. Varga and G. Sturm and then by all the co-authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Competing interests
S. Dhami: support to undertake the systematic review; U. Nurmatov: support to undertake the review; E-M Varga: Steering Committee Member and National Study Co-ordinator of the GAP trial (ALK-Abello), Speakers honoraria recipient from Stallergenes, Meda,Nutricia, Alk-Abello, Bencard; G Sturm: Materials for research programme (ALK-Abello), research grant (ALK-Abello), advisory board (ALK-Abello, Meda), speaker (ALK-Abello, Stallergens, Bencard, Thermo Fisher); A Muraro: Acting in consulting capacity for ALK, Meda Pharma, Nestle, Nutricia, Novartis. Grants from: Nestlé: Co-investigator for research protocol, Nutricia: Co-investigator for research protocols; C Akdis: Materials for research programme (Allergopharma), research grant (Allergopharma, Swiss National Science Foundation, EU MeDall, EU Predicta, Swiss Polish Research Program), advisory board (Boehringer Ingelheim, Allergopharma, Novartis, Davos Diagnostics, Actellion, Alimentary Health Pharma Davos), speaker (none) D. Antolín-Amérigo: advisory board (Merck, Novartis, Sandoz), Medical expert of the ALK web for general public (ALK-Abelló), research grant (Merck-Serono-Fundación 2000), clinical trials (Diater Laboratorios, Stallergenes), educational grants (Merck, Pfizer), speaker (Allergy Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Stallergenes), honoraria for articles (Ferrer Laboratorios, Meda, Stallergenes); M. Beatrice Bilò: advisory board (ALK-Abello, Allergopharma, Novartis), speaker (ALK-Abello, Allergopharma, Stallergens, Thermo Fisher); D. Bokanovic: research grant (MEDA), speaker (ALK-Abello); Moises A. Calderon: lectures honorarium (ALK, Stallergens, Merck and Allergopharma), consultancy honorarium (ALK, Stallergenes and Hal); E. Cichocka-Jarosz: none; J.O. Elberink, speaker (Chiesi, Meda, Novartis); R. Gawlik: speaker (Stallergens, Hal); T. Jakob: Materials for research (Allergopharma GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific), research grant (Allergopharma GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dr. Fooke Laboratories GmbH, Novartis, Birken AG, Cosmetics Europe), advisory board (ALK-Abello, Allergy Therapeutics, Novartis, Leti GmbH, Allergopharma), speaker (ALK-Abello, Allergy Therapeutics, Thermo Fisher Scientific); Mitja Kosnik: none; J Lange: none; E. Mingomataj: none; D. I. Mitsias: none; H. Mosbech: none; C. Pitsios: none; V. Pravettoni: consultant for an advisory board (ALK Abellò), speaker (Thermo Fisher); G. Roberts: Materials for research programme (ALK-Abello), research grant (ALK-Abello), advisory board (ALK-Abello), speaker (Allergy Therapeutics, ALK-Abelo); B. A. Sin: none; A. Sheikh: support to co-ordinate the undertaking of the systematic review and development of the guidelines.