Have You Heard of ‘Rush’ Immunotherapy?

Sufferers who have specific allergies, such as sensitivity to bee stings, may be cheered by the news of a ‘rush’ desensitization technique.  The report comes from the US military, who have used it effectively and safely in over 3,000 patients.  The idea is that the usual series of injections of small amounts of allergen that's given in ever-increasing strength, and spread over a period of months, is crammed into a few hours.  This was the subject of a report at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology annual meeting. 

In fact, a first account of 1,500 subjects treated in this way was given in 2006, and the report this year brought the total to 3,300, with extension from fire-ant stings and bee stings to grass, ragweed, cat, and dust-mite allergies.

For 3 days before the allergen treatments begin patients are given a corticosteroid (prednisone) and antihistamines. The actual immunotherapy comprises about 10 injections of antigen, about 30 to 60 minutes apart.  In the case of fire-ant sting desensitization (one of the hardest to achieve) 4 additional doses are given over the next 7 weeks, followed by monthly maintenance;  however, a challenge injection 3 weeks after the one-day regimen produced only a mild reaction in one of 48 volunteers, so ‘immunity’ is achieved quickly.     

While ‘rush’ immunotherapy is now standard practice against fire ant sensitivity at the Lackland Air Force base in Texas, it’s not necessarily best suited to all sensitive patients.  It must be done in a well-controlled, monitored environment to be sure that an anaphylactic reaction can be recognized and treated promptly – something that may not always be possible in a family doctor’s office. It should be reserved for situations where really speedy desensitization is necessary.