ASIT therapy what is it? Price, reviews, side effects

For the first time, the successful use of ASIT was described in 1911. More than a century has passed since that moment, which made it possible to accumulate sufficient experience in working with allergen-specific immunotherapy and create effective drugs.

The ASIT method is constantly expanding. It is based on the introduction into the body of a person suffering from allergic diseases, increasing doses of an irritant in the form of a specific preparation, the so-called "allergy vaccine".

Against the background of such an effect, the body gradually gets used to the allergen, ceasing to react to it. In this case, allergy treatment can be considered successful.

Specificity of treatment

ASIT therapy offers not just symptomatic treatment, the goal of the method is to cure allergies by eliminating the body's hypersensitivity to its primary source. The minimum volumes of allergens regularly introduced into the human body in increasing amounts over time lead to the fact that the immune system ceases to painfully react to a stimulus and to take it for alien agent. Gradually, this method of treating allergies completely eliminates the disease.

The allergens used in ASIT are based on polysaccharides and proteins. Once in the body of an allergic person, they stimulate the synthesis of antibodies that reduce the effect of irritating external factors on the body. Thus, allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is a therapeutic and prophylactic a procedure aimed at correcting the immune status with the subsequent cure of an allergic diseases.

Treatment principle

Allergy treatment using the ASIT method begins with a diagnosis, which includes the following list of studies:

• general blood and urine tests;
• ECG study;

• spirography for persons suffering from bronchial asthma.

In addition, the examination of the patient is necessarily carried out with the study of allergy tests to potentially known irritants. Having collected all the information, the specialist selects the ASIT course, namely the vaccine, its dosage, method and frequency of administration. If the drug is well tolerated by the body, the doctor begins to increase its volume.

The procedure should be carried out in a hospital department or an allergist's office, where everything is available. necessary to provide first aid to a patient if his body does not adequately respond to the introduction allergen. After the administration of the drug, all patients are advised not to leave the walls of the hospital for an hour.

How is ASIT treated? The drugs are injected into the body as follows:

Method of introduction	Clarification
Subcutaneously	The vaccine is injected into the forearm.
Orally	The drug is taken by the patient inside
Sublingually	The patient puts drops or tablets under the tongue, as the instructions for use say, from there the vaccine enters the blood and lymphatic system
Intranasal	The drug is injected into the nasal cavity
Inhalation	The patient breathes in vapors of the drug through an inhaler

Indications

Allergy treatment with the ASIT method is effective in the following conditions:

• seasonal rhinitis, for example: hay fever;
• allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis;
• hives;
• bronchial asthma during the period of compensation;
• certain types of food allergies;
• the patient's desire and ability to undergo this method of treatment.

If pregnancy occurs during ASIT, it is considered that the future child is not threatened by the treatment course, so it can be saved. But it is not recommended to start therapy knowingly about pregnancy.

Together with the indications, it is important to consider the requirements for the treatment:

• a well-defined allergen;
• effect on the body of no more than 3 allergens at the same time;
• it is not feasible to stop contact with the allergen due to its prevalence: plant pollen (birch, elm, etc.), dust, insect bites.

Contraindications

Contraindications to ASIT include the following conditions:

diseases of the heart and blood vessels, in the stage of decompensation and subcompensation, the treatment of which excludes the use of Adrenaline;

• diseases of the hematopoietic system;
• liver and kidney disease;
• tuberculosis;
• active form of rheumatism;
• endocrine system diseases, thyroid disorders;
• oncological neoplasms;
• severe form of bronchial asthma, proceeding with impaired respiratory functions of the lungs, despite the ongoing therapeutic measures;
• the use of drugs of the group of beta-blockers in the patient;
• acute and decompensated pathologies of various organs and systems;
• severe mental disorders;
• children under five years old.

In addition, treatment with this method is not practiced in patients who suffer from the following diseases:

• photodermatitis;
• atopic dermatitis;
• cold intolerance;
• Quincke's edema;
• polyvalent allergy, when the body is hypersensitive to more than 3 allergens;
• allergy to mold and fungal spores, animal saliva;
• intolerance to certain medications.

In all these conditions, human immunity is under serious stress, so it may not cope with the additional influence of external factors, including the treatment of ASIT for allergies.

Side effects of ASIT

Human immunity is the most complex system of the body, therefore, it is almost impossible to predict what its response to the introduction of the next dose of allergens from the outside will be.

The reaction to allergen-specific therapy can be of two types:

Reaction type	Manifestations
Local	It manifests itself exclusively in the area of ​​vaccine administration in the form of edema, hyperemia and itching of the skin
Systemic	Regardless of the place of administration of the allergen, Quincke's edema, an attack of bronchial asthma, pulmonary edema, painful sensations in the joints and muscles, migraines and general ailments may develop

With the development of a systemic reaction from the immune system, the patient receives the following assistance:

• the tourniquet is applied 5 cm above the injection site;
• an injection of Adrenaline is made at the injection site;
• an antihistamine is injected intravenously, for example: Tavegil, as well as Prednisolone;
• Euphyllin is injected intravenously when bronchospasm occurs;

• if there is a suspicion of developing a state of shock, the patient requires urgent medical attention.

After the manifestations of the systemic reaction are eliminated, the patient is left for 24 hours in the hospital for observation. Experts are sure that such a reaction of the immune system can develop in response to improper administration of an allergen, violation of its shelf life, etc. If side effects occur, the specialist revises the scheme of the prescribed treatment course, if necessary, making adjustments to it.

Efficiency

The most important aspect of successful treatment is close cooperation between a doctor and a patient, as well as a complete understanding on the part of the latter - what ASIT is and the mechanism of its action. This is important because allergen-specific therapy is a long and sequential process that lasts from several months to several years.

The effectiveness of ASIT depends on the following factors:

• the course of treatment was started in a timely manner, at an early stage of an allergic disease: the earlier the technique of allergen-specific therapy is used, the better the effect will be from it;
• the patient strictly adheres to all the recommendations and admission regimen specified by the specialist;
• for treatment, high-quality industrial vaccines are used, which have undergone appropriate purification from possible impurities and irritants.

This method of treatment has been practiced for many years, but today in 2017 it remains modern and no less effective.

If you refuse to use allergen-specific treatment, the likelihood of developing the following complications is high:

• the growth and aggravation of the clinical manifestations of allergies;
• the overgrowth of an allergic rhinitis into bronchial asthma;
• the emergence of hypersensitivity to additional new allergens;
• deterioration in the effectiveness of symptomatic drug treatment.

90% of patients with allergic rhinitis or hay fever who have received allergen-specific therapy report a complete recovery or elimination of most of the clinical manifestations of the disease, a decrease in their severity, a decrease in the consumption of the amount of medication drugs.

ASIT advantages

• Eliminates allergy symptoms as much as possible.
• Normalizes the quality of life.
• It guarantees a long period of remission.
• Prevents the transition of mild forms of the disease to more severe.
• Prevents the development of immunity hypersensitivity to other allergens.
• Promotes the formation of less drug dependence on antihistamines, and sometimes allows you to completely abandon them.

The therapeutic effect of allergen-specific therapy depends on many factors, including the behavior of the patient and the individual response of his body. Some note an obvious improvement in well-being already against the background of the first treatment course. Reviews of others indicate that a stable period of remission came in them only after a few years of regular passage of ASIT. Repeated treatment courses are necessary for all patients, regardless of the reaction of their body. Their duration, method and frequency of vaccine administration are determined by the allergist.

disadvantages

But, in addition to the advantages of this method, allergen-specific therapy has its drawbacks.

1. First, there is a small number of specific allergens that can be treated.
2. Secondly, the list of contraindications is too voluminous, against the background of which not all persons suffering from allergic diseases can undergo this procedure.
3. Thirdly, the obvious disadvantage of allergen-specific therapy are side effects, the likelihood of which is increased.

Also, the disadvantages of the method include strict age restrictions among patients. ASIT is contraindicated in children under 5 years of age and adults over 60 years of age. This is due to the fact that at this age the immune system does not respond well to corrective external measures.

Another disadvantage of the ASIT method, which is significant for many patients, is its cost. The price of one vaccine varies within 700 rubles (data for 2016), and for a full treatment course from 18 to 45 thousand rubles.

The cost of allergen-specific therapy is influenced not only by the pricing policy of the medical clinic, but also by the form and quantity of specific allergens, the cost of additional laboratory tests, medical consultations and medications prescribed for symptomatic treatment.

However, if we compare symptomatic antiallergenic therapy aimed only at combating clinical manifestations of an allergic disease, with the ASIT method - the advantages of the latter will be indisputable. Because it is with its help that you can forget what it is like to be allergic.

Patient preparation

The timing of allergen-specific therapy is planned well in advance. The beginning of treatment should coincide with the onset of remission of the allergic disease. For example, if treatment with seasonal therapy is required, then ASIT is carried out in the autumn-winter season. As for year-round allergies, the therapeutic course is carried out at any time of the year, but a prerequisite for treatment is remission of the disease.

Patient preparation includes the following activities:

• conducting allergy tests aimed at identifying the allergen;

• complete exclusion of contact with the detected allergen (in extreme cases, minimizing it);
• refusal of antihistamines: with a mild form of an allergic disease, refusal is carried out 7 days before the start of treatment, with a severe form - 3.

During allergen-specific therapy, the patient must be completely healthy.

Scheme of the

The scheme of allergen-specific immunotherapy is a purely individual process. It includes imitation and maintenance stages.

The mimicking stage is called the abbreviated stage. It is recommended for milder forms of allergic diseases. It lasts up to 6 weeks, during this period of time the allergist selects the maximum allowable dosage of the vaccine.

The maintenance stage consists in the introduction of the vaccine once every 7-10 days or orally (sublingually) - 3 times a week.

There is also a second scheme for allergen-specific therapy, which is also called classic. It is used in the treatment of patients with advanced lingering allergic reactions. In this case, the imitating stage lasts at least 4 months, and the supporting one - 6 months.

Treatment courses must be repeated several times. As a rule, 3 courses of ASIT are required for complete recovery.

You can also note short-term treatment regimens:

• accelerated: the vaccine is injected into the body 3 times a day;
• lightning fast: allergens are injected over 3 days at intervals of 3 hours;
• shock method: the entire dose of vaccines is administered every 2 hours during the day.

Short-term forms of allergen-specific therapy are less effective, with the risk the development of side effects and complications increases several times, in contrast to the classical method ASIT. Short-term treatment should be carried out strictly in an inpatient setting, where the patient is hospitalized for several days during the immunotherapy.

Price for ASIT

The average cost for ASIT in Moscow can be seen in this table:

Service name	Price
Allergist-immunologist consultation	RUB 1,500
Skin tests (with one allergen)	450 RUB
ASIT with imported oral drug (course with one allergen)	RUB 16,000
Supportive course	RUB 8400

Similar information is contained in the table about the prices for ASIT in St. Petersburg:

Service name	Price
Allergist-immunologist consultation	RUB 1000
Skin allergy test (1 test with 1 allergen)	420 RUB
ASIT with water-salt solutions	RUB 20,000
Supportive therapy	RUB 7560

In other regions, the cost of treatment may vary, but you need to understand that it will be different for different patients. The number of drugs used and the frequency of their administration depends on the severity of the allergy.

ASIT therapy: reviews

Reviews of allergen-specific therapy vary. One group of patients who received full treatment claims to have been able to get rid of allergic diseases. That is, people who previously suffered from severe allergy symptoms, after ASIT, can live a full life, calmly contacting pets and flowering plants, forgetting what a diet is. But, there is also that group of patients for whom allergen-specific therapy did not bring the expected result, and time, along with financial costs, was wasted.

ANNA, 30 years old, Nizhny Novgorod. “The child was allergic to dust mites from an early age. As a treatment, many drugs were tried, even hormone-containing ones, but there was practically no result. Before the school, the allergist told about the ASIT method, its advantages, and strongly advised to undergo this treatment. In a medical clinic, the doctor selected a drug that is administered sublingually (I did not want to subject the child to frequent injections), and an individual treatment regimen. Already in the first year of ASIT, the symptoms of allergy became less pronounced, so we can confidently assume that the treatment is effective and the disease will surely recede after it is canceled. "

MARINA, 37 years old, Moscow. “The beginning of spring was a real challenge for me. The body reacted to birch pollen with a violent runny nose, conjunctivitis and cough. To slightly alleviate my health, I had to take antihistamines every day, but every year the situation became more complicated. Quite by accident, from a medical journal, I learned about allergen-specific immunotherapy, and decided to try it, since there was nothing to lose. I went to a medical clinic, where the doctor proposed to conduct ASIT with Staloral, a vaccine containing a birch pollen allergen. The treatment is really effective, because after two courses of injections of the drug, I had to take an antihistamine only a few times per season. The doctor advises to carry out at least two more treatment courses in order to completely forget about allergies. "

In recent years, non-injection types of ASIT are increasingly common: oral, sublingual, intranasal and inhalation methods. These methods of introducing vaccines into the body have more advantages over injections, since they are better tolerated by allergy sufferers, less often they develop complications and undesirable effects, which makes it possible to administer high dosages of allergens, and, in turn, this increases the effectiveness therapy. But the experience of using non-injection methods of allergen-specific therapy among Russian specialists is still insufficient due to their small practice.