An earlier-than-usual allergy season is driving patients to seek more aggressive ?treatment with immunotherapy,? according to today?s Informed Patient column . At the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, which ended last week in Orlando, Fla., researchers presented a number of studies adding to evidence of the safety and effectiveness of immunotherapy, which is commonly delivered as allergy shots, but can also be delivered orally for patients with allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. ?Immunotherapy is the only treatment we currently have that changes or modifies the allergic response in a way that may induce long-term clinical remission and possibly cure,? Linda Cox, president-elect of the academy, tells the Health Blog. Originally introduced a century ago,? the concept of giving sufferers escalating doses of the substance they are allergic too has become increasingly refined ? and has been shown to lead to lasting remissions after three to five years in a majority of patients.? Doctors are now offering shots ? known as subcutaneous immunotherapy, or SCIT ? in accelerated ??cluster?? or ?rush? schedules so patients can get relief ?in weeks rather than the months it can take on the usual weekly allergy-shot schedule. Researchers are now investigating oral forms of administration including tablets that dissolve under the tongue,? a technique known as SLIT, for sublingual immunotherapy.? Although it?s been available in Europe for years, ?SLIT isn?t currently approved in the U.S.? At the Orlando meeting, Merck & Co. announced results from a Phase III clinical trial of an immunotherapy tablet for ragweed pollen, a common allergen that appears to be growing in prevalence. Substances used in allergy shots are sometimes administered ?by doctors in the U.S. as drops under the tongue, which isn?t approved by? regulators here, but is considered an off-label use that doctors can offer as an alternative to shots. But while the allergens ?are generally standardized? and manufactured in facilities subject to regulatory approval, ?there is no data on optimum dosing and ??they have not been through rigorous clinical trials,? ??says Rupert Vessey, a physician and senior vice president at Merck. ?By contrast, he says, Merck?s trial has shown that, compared to a placebo, its oral tablet helps to prevent allergy symptoms by generating an immune response to protect against targeted allergens. Vessey says the trial also showed that the tablet helped reduce use of medications to control allergy symptoms. Merck plans to submit a new drug application next year to the Food and Drug Administration. Merck?s market research shows that for every 100 people with allergic rhinitis, 30% might sign up for allergy shots, but 25% of them might not stick with it.? Of the other 70% who have hay fever and aren?t getting shots, half could benefit from immunotherapy. Of those who don?t sign up for shots in the beginning, or who start and can?t continue, ?a substantial number would be interested if there was something else available? like a tablet, Vessey says.
See the rest here:?
Taking Aim at Seasonal Allergies
Source: http://healthxpert.org/taking-aim-at-seasonal-allergies/
dwts season 14 cast leap day donald driver donald driver michigan primary results olympia snowe davey jones dead
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন