Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Teaching staff
Students may ask questions to the teachers at the end of each class. Outside of these hours, an appointment must be requested by email:
Dra. Marta Viñas Domingo mvinas@uic.es
Dra. Adriana Izquierdo Domínguez aizquierdo@uic.es
Dr. Enrique Martí Guadaño enricmarti@uic.es
Dra María Aránzazu Vega: mavega@uic.es
Introduction
The dysfunctions of this system will affect a large part of systems and organs of the human body
You cannot understand certain diseases, without an integral vision of this system, fleeing many times to focus only on certain specificities
It is a proven fact that allergic diseases - we remember that allergy is an affectation of the immune system by excess - occupy a leading place in the prevalence of disease
Pre-course requirements
Have passed the following courses:
- Structure and Function of the Blood and Immune System.
- Cellular Biology
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 05 - Recognize own limitations and the need to maintain and upgrade professional skills, with particular emphasis on autonomous learning of new knowledge and skills and motivation for quality.
- 09 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
- 10 - To understand and recognise the agents and risk factors which determine health status, and learn how they determine the symptoms and natural development of acute or chronic diseases in individuals and populations.
- 11 - Understand and recognize the effects of growth, development and aging on the individual and their social environment.
- 12 - Understanding the foundations for action, the indications and efficacy of therapeutic interventions, based on available scientific evidence.
- 15 - Ability to formulate an initial diagnosis and establish a rationalised diagnostic strategy.
- 16 - Recognize and deal with situations that put life in immediate danger and those that require immediate attention.
- 17 - Establish the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, applying principles based on the best information possible and safe clinical practice..
- 18 - To indicate the most appropriate (pharmacological, surgical, psychological, social or other) treatments that are pertinent to the most prevalent procedures, in terms of rehabilitation and also terminally ill patients, including an evaluation of their effectiveness.
- 19 - Propose preventive measures appropriate to each clinical situation.
- 25 - Recognize the determinants of public health; genetic and sex-dependent lifestyle, demographic, environmental, social, economic, psychological and cultural determinants.
- 26 - Assume role in the prevention and protection from diseases, injuries or accidents and maintenance and promotion of health, both individual and at the community level.
- 31 - Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health care information.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Knowledge (3)
- Identify the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hematological and immune‑system disorders, as well as allergic reactions, promoting a patient‑centred approach to medicine. (C4, C5, C6)
- Consolidate specialised and advanced knowledge in the use of symptomatic and specific treatments available for hematological and allergic pathologies, with a clear orientation toward precision medicine. (C9, C10)
- Describe the theoretical foundations of transfusion medicine and the identification, investigation, and management of transfusional reactions, taking into account the individual’s biological, psychological, and social variability, thereby promoting patient safety. (C4, C5, C7)
Skills (4)
- Analyse clinical symptomatology together with skin and laboratory testing to establish an accurate diagnosis and appropriate clinical management of allergic pathology, differentiating between conditions such as allergic rhinitis and asthma, food and drug allergies, and identifying severe reactions such as anaphylaxis. (H5, H7, H14)
- Evaluate clinical and analytical manifestations in emergency settings related to hematological, immune‑system, and allergic pathologies, prioritising immediate care and treatment of anaphylaxis and severe hemorrhagic syndrome. (H3, H4)
- Determine risk factors for thrombosis, the pathologies that cause thrombophilia, preventive measures, and commonly used anticoagulant treatments. (H5, H7, H14)
- Perform physical examination of lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, recognising warning signs and appropriately indicating the diagnostic work‑up. (H3, H4)
Competences (3)
- Apply knowledge of immune‑system pathophysiology and associated hypersensitivity symptoms with an integrative diagnostic and therapeutic perspective. (Scientific competence)
- Interpret abnormalities in standard hematimetry and hemostasis tests, implementing appropriate diagnostic methodology and processes in each case to optimise healthcare resource management and enable diagnosis of hematological and immune‑system diseases, distinguishing reactive from neoplastic processes. (Scientific competence)
- Integrate results obtained from high‑complexity diagnostic techniques with clinical presentation, physical examination, and other biological parameters, understanding the rationale for their application in diagnosing hematological, immune‑system, and allergic disorders. (Research competence)
Syllabus
PROGRAM:
Lectures
1.- Course presentation. Course objectives
Immunology I
Review of the immune system. Immunological mechanisms. Gell and Coombs
Dr. Marta Viñas
2.- Immunology II:
Immunodeficiencies
Medical history, diagnostic algorithms, symptomatic and specific treatments.
Dr. Adriana Izquierdo
3.- Respiratory allergic pathology
Rhinitis, Conjunctivitis, Bronchial Asthma, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.
Special situations: Pregnancy, Sports, Occupational...
Dr. Marta Viñas
4.- Diagnosis in Allergology
Medical history, allergological examinations, diagnostic algorithms, referral protocols.
Dr. Marta Viñas
5.- Anaphylaxis
Diagnostic criteria, emergency treatment, preventive measures, investigation of the causal agent. Case resolution. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis, Kounis syndrome. Mast cell activation syndromes.
Dra. Paula Ribó
6.- Pediatric allergy. Specific features
Dr. Marcia Dias
7.- Urticaria - Angioedema
Dra. Paula Ribó
8.- Key and unclear points of the course.
Clarification of the less understood topics and discussion of relevant aspects of the course.
Dr. Marta Viñas
Case method
Clinical cases (Immunology)
Dr. Adriana Izquierdo
Food allergy pathology
Food in childhood, food in adults, clinical cases (IgE-mediated allergy, gastroenteropathies, eosinophilic esophagitis).
Dr. Adriana Izquierdo
Pediatric clinical cases
Dr. Marcia Dias
Food Allergy clinical cases
Dra. Adriana Izquierdo
Drug, cutaneous and hymenoptera allergy pathology 18-09-2025 14:00h
Most common drugs, clinical manifestations, perioperative reactions, iodinated contrast media reactions.
Insect allergy: Hymenoptera, other insects, Parasites (Anisakis simplex).
Dr. Aránzazu Vega
Treatments in Allergology:
Symptomatic treatments, specific treatments. Immunotherapy, tolerance induction, desensitization to foods and drugs.
Dr. Adriana Izquierdo
Problem-Based Learning 04-11-2025 16:00 and 18:00
Diagnostic protocol for food, drug, and airborne allergen allergy. The class is developed with real patients physically present and interactive participation as the core elements.
Dr. Enrique Martí
Skills Laboratory (5 GROUPS)
Dia 06/11/26 Dra. Marta Viñas
Dia 10/11/26. Dra.Paula Ribó
Dia 13/11/26. Adriana Izquierdo
Skin testing workshop.
Anaphylaxis treatment workshop; practical application of adrenaline.
Olfactometry
Immunotherapy
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The master class is the setting in which a teacher transmits the knowledge in a classroom to the entire group of students. The format, however, allows the introduction of activities in small groups within the classroom and the deployment of strategies that encourage the active participation of students.
The case method consists of the process of solving clinical or profession-specific cases. They are group activities that are resolved with the active participation of the teacher detached from the deliberation of the students.
Problem-based learning has similarities to the case method but differs in that students are held responsible for finding the solution to the problem. The teacher acts as a tutor who facilitates the learning process based on their trained metacognitive skills. It is also done in groups.
The skills laboratory is an area in which the student can basically develop communication and physical exploration skills based on mannequins, robots and also simulator patients and real patients. They are done in groups.
Lecture (CM) are face to face.
Case method (MC), problem-based learning and Laboratory Practice are face to face.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Assessment, Academic Integrity, and Examination Conduct Policy
- Applicable to any assessable activity.
- Conduct contrary to academic integrity, including the use of electronic devices, recording, the use of AI, etc.
Conduct that violates academic integrity may result in the annulment of the assessment, a failing grade for the activity or the course, and the loss of the right to retake the assessment. In addition, such conduct may lead to the initiation of the corresponding disciplinary proceedings. The conduct covered by this policy will be sanctioned in accordance with the current regulations on student conduct and disciplinary procedures of the International University of Catalonia.
Written evaluation (80%) : Final exam
Multiple-choice test : 50 questions, 4 possible answers, one of which is valid. One point for each correct question; for each question with an incorrect answer, 1/3 of the value of the answer will be deducted.
Continuous evaluation (20%)
Assess the activities performed in the skills lab as well as mandatory attendance, active participation in case and PBA methods .
Written exam:
EXAM REVIEW SYSTEM.
The review of the exams will be done individually with the student upon written request within the established deadlines.
The passing of the clinical evaluation will be retained for an additional academic year: until the September exam of the following academic year.
FINAL QUALIFICATION (Accreditation)
Weighted sum of the Clinical Evaluation, 10%, and of the Written Evaluation, 90%
It is essential to pass the subject, get a 5 in the written evaluation
Bibliography and resources
Delves, Martin, Burton, Roitt. Inmunología. Fundamentos. 11ª edición. Editorial Panamericana, 2008
Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai. Inmunología cellular y molecular. 6ª edición. Editorial Elsevier Saunders, 2008
Moisés Labrador, Luís Martínea. Compendio iconográfico de Inmunología. MRA ediciones, 2005
A. Peláez Hernández, I.J. Dávila González. Tratado de Alergología. Editorial Ergon 2007
Middleton. Allergy: principles and practice. 7ª edición. Editorial Mosby Elsevier 2009
Leslie C. Grammer, Paula A. Greenberger. Patterson, Enfermedades alérgicas. 7ª edición. Ed. Grupo Aula Médica S.L. 2011.
Mariana Castells. Anaphylaxis and Hypersensitivity Reactions. Editorial Springler. February 2011