The study was lead by Dr. Stephen R. Durham of the National Heart and Lung Institute in London. For three years, he and his colleagues followed 32 patients who had received grass-pollen immunotherapy for a t least three years. During the three year period of the study, grass-pollen allergy symptoms did not retunr in the group of patients who had received treatment. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology supports the use of immunotherapy in appropriate patients.
Immunotherapy involves injecting small amounts of the allergen to which a person is allergic.
To be effective, treatment must occur on a regular basis, and typically lasts for 3-5 years. It is a big investment of time, but the marked decrease in symptoms can definitely be worth it for some patients. The New England Journal of Medicine study shows that symptoms can be greatly diminished for at least three years following treatment. To learn more about immunotherapy, ask your allergist.