
Personalized Care and the Use of New Biologics
Two large trials, DREAM and MENSA have found IL-5 therapy with mepolizumab to lower risk of exacerbation in patients with asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype.
Rapid desensitization is a procedure which patients with allergic disease are treated with increasing doses of antigen until they tolerate a large dose. It is an effective way to induce tolerance quickly. Methods include rush or cluster immunotherapy. Patients receive a series of ten injections with increasing dosages of antigen within a three hour visit. Serial exams and vital signs are monitored given higher risk of allergic reaction. It has more rapid results than traditional weekly shots of immunotherapy. It is useful for patients with uncontrolled nasal symptoms who need rapid results or patients such as students whose schedules make it difficult to receive a weekly shot. This is an available procedure in our office.