Allergen Immunotherapy Remains Effective

Patients undergoing a 3-to 5-yearcourse of allergen immunotherapy shotsstill see the benefits for >5 years afterstopping treatment. The findings arebased on a survey of immunotherapypatients in Tennessee. The study lookedat the return of allergy symptoms in 2groups of patients—126 had finishedimmunotherapy 1 to 4 years prior and167 had completed the regimen 5 to 12years prior.

"We did not find any major differencesin these 2 [groups]—those being off shots1 to 4 years and those being off shots 5 ormore years,"said lead investigator JohnM. Fahrenholz, MD.

The results of the study showed, in the1-to 4-year group, that the average symptomscores before immunotherapy, at thecompletion of immunotherapy, and atpresent were 8.48, 2.96, and 3.97,respectively. The second group's scoresfor these time periods were 8.26, 2.94,and 3.95, respectively.