Allergy Immunotherapy (AIT) works by introducing the body to gradually increasing amounts of the allergens that produce symptoms in that patient. Through multiple studies, AIT has been shown to reduce allergic symptoms, decrease the need for other medications, and maintain efficacy for up to 3 years.

 

An allergy first develops through exposure and sensitization. First, cells from an allergen (i.e. dust mites or tree pollen) get into the body and are exposed to cells in the immune system, such as T-lymphocytes (T cells) and B-lymphocytes (B cells). B cells become plasma cells that produce antibodies, and during an allergic response, they produce Immunoglobin E (IgE) antibodies. IgE antibodies bond to specific allergen cells, so exposure to certain allergens causes the production of the corresponding IgE antibodies. This is an immune system response known as "sensitization". Once the IgE antibodies are produced, they travel throughout the body and leave allergen-specific receptor sites on other cells. 

 

After this process, the next time that person is exposed to that allergen, the immune system reacts more aggressively and quickly. Cells begin to degranulate which involves the release of histamine and other chemicals that produce allergic symptoms. 

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AIT is a way to re-train the immune system to no longer react to those allergens, through exposure and desensitization.

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There are three treatment options for allergic disease: avoidance, over the counter medications, and allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Avoidance works for things that can easily be avoided, but it is not always a viable solution because, for most of us, it's not realistic to be able to completely avoid allergens all of the time. Over-the-counter medications help mask the classical symptoms caused by allergic disease, but they do nothing to target the root cause of the problems. 

 

AIT is the only treatment option that works as an actual cure of the root cause of the allergic disease and continues to be efficacious after treatment is discontinued. Because allergy symptoms are caused by an immune system reaction to certain allergens, AIT works by slowly exposing the body to gradually increasing amounts of those allergens until desensitization takes place and the immune system no longer reacts to them.

 

Allergen Immunotherapy has been utilized for more than 100 years and is the only treatment option that has the ability to actually modify the disease. Several different studies done over varying periods of time and in varying environments have shown that AIT decreases symptoms in patients, reduces their need for medications and doctor visits, lower their odds of developing certain other illnesses and conditions, and saves money for patients, insurance companies, and the healthcare system as a whole. 

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