What Is Immunotherapy?

Improved quality of life

Personalized Medicine

It is based on allergen extracts

The ability to alter the course of allergic diseases

What kind of benefits does it offer?

How many different types are there?

Important Information

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy using allergy vaccines or allergen extracts is recognized by scientists in the field as the only treatment method capable of altering the natural course of allergic respiratory diseases.1

This treatment aims to reduce the body’s hypersensitivity reaction to substances that cause allergies.

Immunotherapy is recommended for respiratory allergies caused by substances such as pollen, house dust mites, mold, and animal dander, as well as for cases of hypersensitivity to bee and wasp stings.

Treatment begins by administering the substance that causes the allergy (the allergen) to the body in gradually increasing doses. Once a specific maximum dose is reached, this dose is typically maintained for 3 to 5 years.

Today, the approach to immunotherapy varies depending on factors such as the treatment goal, the type of allergen extracts used, and the route of administration. For this reason, your doctor will determine the treatment protocol that is best suited for you.

Because there are different products and methods of administration, it is very important to understand the various types of immunotherapy available and to know the differences between them.

What are the benefits? 2

Thanks to allergy shots, patients begin to develop a tolerance to the allergens they are exposed to over time. This results in a reduction or complete elimination of the symptoms the patient experiences when naturally exposed to these substances.

The gradual improvement in symptoms associated with the illness (such as sneezing, watery eyes, wheezing, or shortness of breath) also reduces the need for medications used to manage these symptoms (such as antihistamines, eye drops, bronchodilators, etc.).

Effects of Allergen Immunotherapy

Short-term effects (reduction in symptoms, decreased need for allergy medications)

Long-term effect (a lasting effect that persists for years even after treatment has ended; in some cases, immunity that can last a lifetime)

The disappearance or significant reduction of allergic symptoms.

Controlling the natural course of allergic diseases:
– Preventing the development of bronchial asthma in children with allergic rhinitis
- Preventing the emergence of new allergies

Immunotherapy Administration Methods and Treatment Stages

The two most common routes of administration in immunotherapy are subcutaneous (under the skin) and sublingual (under the tongue). Treatment generally consists of two phases: the initial phase and the maintenance phase. The initial phase refers to the period during which doses are gradually increased, while the maintenance (or continuation) phase refers to the period during which the maximum dose reached is administered at regular intervals. 3

SUBCUTANEOUS (Subcutaneous injection)

Initial treatment:

Depending on the type of product, applications are generally performed on a weekly basis. If the goal is to reach the maintenance dose sooner, more than one dose may be administered in a single day, or all doses may be administered over the course of one or more days.

Maintenance (follow-up) treatment:

Initial treatment typically involves administering the maximum dose achieved, repeated at monthly intervals. For patients with pollen allergies, treatment is sometimes suspended for one year and resumed the following year after the pollen season has ended.

To treat any possible reactions, the procedure must be performed at a medical facility. After the injection of the extract, the patient must remain at the facility for at least 30 minutes.

SUBLINGUAL (Available in drops, spray, or tablet form.)

Initial treatment:

It is caused by the daily use of sublingual spray, drops, or tablets and the daily increase in the dose.

For some products, such as SULGEN, an initial treatment is not required. The maintenance dose is administered starting on the first day.

Maintenance (follow-up) treatment:

Although it is generally used daily, there are also formulations that can be applied every other day or five days a week. With SULGEN, however, the treatment is continued every day, with two puffs per day.

The safety of sublingual treatment allows for treatment to begin directly with the maintenance dose in some cases. Patients can administer these extracts themselves at home.

Important Information About Hasta4

 (Subcutaneous immunotherapy)

  • Local reactions may occur at the injection site, and, although rare, general (systemic) reactions may also occur.
  • It must be administered at a healthcare facility (outpatient clinic, community health center, hospital, specialist’s office, etc.). It must never be administered at the patient’s home. As indicated on the patient’s follow-up card, it is important to adhere to the intervals between each injection.
  • It should be stored in the refrigerator at 2–8˚C (it should not touch the inner walls of the refrigerator; leave some space when placing it on the shelves). Do not freeze it (if frozen, the product will become unusable and a new one will need to be purchased).
  • The application of the extract should be postponed if any of the following conditions are observed:
    – If you are experiencing an asthma attack.
    – If you have a fever or a respiratory infection (accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, or shaking).
    – If you have hepatitis, mononucleosis, active tuberculosis, or a similar infectious disease.
    – If you have received a live-attenuated virus vaccine within the last 7–10 days.
  • If you have been prescribed another medication for a different condition, be sure to mention it; because some medications may be contraindicated when taken with the vaccine.
  • It is recommended to avoid physical activity for at least two hours after treatment.
  • Immunotherapy is generally a long-term treatment method. The duration of treatment varies between 3 and 5 years.
References

1. Tabar Purroy A.I., Serrano Delgado P., Beitia Mazuecos J.M., Núñez Acevedo B. Types of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy with allergens. In: SEAIC, AstraZeneca, eds. Review of Allergology. Vol. I. 2nd ed. Madrid; 2017. pp. 1195–1209.


2. Guardia Martínez P., Moreno Aguilar C. Allergy vaccines or immunotherapy. In: José Manuel Zubeldia, Mª Luisa Baeza, Ignacio Jáuregui, Carlos J. Senent. The BBVA Foundation’s Book on Allergic Diseases. 2nd ed. Bilbao: Editorial Nerea, S.A.; 2012. pp. 445–452.


3. SEAIC: Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (cited November 21, 2009). Available at: https://www.seaic.org/pacientes/procedimientos-terapeuticos


4. Immunotherapy follow-up chart. SEAIC (Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology)

For more information about allergies, check out our article titled “What Is an Allergy?”
Allergies

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