How do Allergies Work?
Allergies are a result of an immune system disorder that is sometimes called atopy. Allergies are a result of hypersensitivity of the immune system, often called type I hypersensitivity. With allergies, certain white blood cells that include mast cells and basophils are overly activated by a type of antibody called IgE. IgE is an antibody that responds to objects located on surfaces. There are many common allergic reactions, including eczema, hay fever, food allergies, asthma and allergic reactions to certain insect venoms, such as bee stings.
Allergy Treatments: Pharmacotherapy
Many kinds of allergy medications work to block the steps that generate the allergic reaction. In some cases these work to block the cells that respond to allergens. Other kinds of drugs work to prevent the activation of the white blood cells that cause the reaction. These include antihistamines, which block the signaling that activates the white blood cells, and cortisone (and hydrocortisone), which prevents white blood cell activation. Other medications, such as anti-leukotrienes, also work to block white blood cell activation, though through different mechanisms than the drugs listed above. Drugs such a decongestants help to treat the symptoms of an allergy attack but do not play a role in actually preventing or minimizing the allergic response.
Immunotherapy
Another type of treatment is immunotherapy. Immunotherapy focuses on desensitization. As the patient is exposed to larger and larger amounts of the allergen, other antibodies, known as IgG antibodies, accumulate and block the IgE antibodies. The result is that the patient develops a tolerance for whatever causes their allergy. Another kind of immunotherapy uses antibodies that bind to the IgE antibody, inactivating it. Another immunotherapy, called sublingual immunotherapy, is based on research that shows that the immune system shows a greater tolerance for antigens that are taken orally. All of these therapies work to use the immune system to block the allergic response and can either reduce the severity or completely eliminate certain allergies.
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