Traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) are usually a long and grueling course of treatment that can mean dozens of shots over the course of three to five years. Not only is the treatment time consuming and long term, the results can be less than stellar, with some patients only reducing symptoms and not eliminating them.

A new study from University Hospital Zurich shows that when these injections are delivered into the lymph glands of the groin directly, as few as three shots could provide all the protection of up to 54 shots under the skin! Test subjects getting lymph node shots had fewer reactions and needed smaller doses of the allergen. These patients also reported that the injections were practically painless, even though most would assume a lymph gland would be a more painful location for an injection.

The study looked at over 100 patients with grass allergy. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: standard subcutaneous immunotherapy or the reduced protocol with injections in the lymph glands. Results for both groups were compared at 4 months, 1 year and 3 three years after treatment began.

Interestingly, only 32 of the 54 patients finished the standard allergy shots. A number of the patients assigned to this group didn’t even show up for their first shot! In contrast, all of the 58 patients taking the new reduced protocol finished the course of treatment.

The results of the study will be published in the November issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Lymph nodes are a key component of the immune system. Part of their job is to fight foreign substances in the body. This is where the functioning of the lymph system could be involved in allergies. By introducing small amounts of allergens directly into the lymph tissues, the body’s tolerance increases more quickly.

Standard injections result in only the smallest fraction of pollen reaching the lymph nodes. With an injection directly into the gland, the full dose of allergen reaches its intended target, helping to “reset” the body’s reaction to the substance.

Source: Bloomberg News