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Cluster Immunotherapy
(Rapid Desensitization)

Allergen immunotherapy, or allergy shots, is a disease-modifying treatment for allergic disease. It has the advantage of actually decreasing or eliminating allergic disease versus the use of medications which just treats the symptoms and the subsequent associated inflammatory changes. Traditional immunotherapy was first described and successfully used since 1911 by Leonard Noon in London.

Accelerated immunotherapy schedules have been described and used since 1930 by John Freeman, who was one of the original co-developers of immunotherapy.

Cluster immunotherapy (rapid desensitization) is a method of accelerated desensitization utilizing allergy shots in clusters or groups one or two days a week until a maintenance dose is reached. This progression is usually accomplished in 5 or more weeks. It may be longer depending upon the rate of allergic reactions. Reaction rates using pre-medication are similar to conventional immunotherapy ranging from 0 to 33%. The advantage of an accelerated cluster immunotherapy program is achieving maintenance dose quicker but it involves a more concentrated time requirement in the first 5 or more weeks compared to conventional immunotherapy schedules. In addition, there may be a higher risk of allergic reactions but overall, appears to be comparable to traditional immunotherapy schedules. They both provide the same effectiveness once the maintenance dose is obtained.

Pre-medication is required for cluster immunotherapy 2 hours prior to the injection(s) typically with specific antihistamines, leukotriene modifiers or more depending upon each individual case.

A typical cluster immunotherapy schedule at Allergy & Asthma Care is as follows:

  • Week 1: Two days of clusters (both 3 injections) with total time at least 1 ½ hours,
  • Week 2: Two days of clusters (3 injections, then 2 injections) with a total time at least 1 ½ hours and 1 hour respectively,
  • Week 3: One day of cluster (2 injections) with a total time at least 1 hour,
  • Week 4: One day of cluster (2 injections) with a total time at least 1 hour,
  • Week 5: One day of cluster (2 injections) with a total time at least 1 hour,
  • Week 6: One dose at maintenance with a total time at least 1 hour,
  • Week 7-10: One dose at maintenance at 5 to 7 day intervals and then slowly will be spread out to increasing intervals up to a maximum of monthly injections.

 

Hours for Cluster Immunotherapy

(Please allow for wait time when choosing schedule.)

Monday
8:00am – 3:15pm

Tuesday
8:00am – 10:15am & 1:00pm – 3:15pm

Wednesday
8:00am – 10:15am & 1:00pm – 3:15pm

Thursday
9:00am – 12:15pm & 3:00pm – 4:15pm

Friday
8:00am – 10:15am & 1:00pm – 3:15pm

Saturday
8:30am – 10:00am