Rethinking Treatment for Seasonal and Pet Allergies

Above: Sean Stanga, M.D., allergist at Allergenix in West Des Moines

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Itchy eyes, congestion, and fatigue from a night of poor sleep used to define Anna Lothe’s mornings. The traveling nurse started experiencing allergies as a child, first with a severe reaction to cats and then exercise-induced asthma once she reached high school. Her seasonal symptoms continued to progress each year after college, and while Anna found relief in a prescription treatment, a nasal spray, and over-the-counter antihistamines, her allergies persisted from early spring to late fall. “I just kind of learned to live with it,” says Anna, who now lives in Des Moines. “Working in healthcare, I knew I was on everything I could be for seasonal allergies.”

Anna considered traditional allergy shots, but her busy work and travel schedule didn’t allow for the three to five years needed to complete the treatment. Last fall, after a particularly horrible allergy season, she met her breaking point. A coworker, who also has severe allergies, suggested she check out Allergenix, a direct specialty care clinic in West Des Moines that treats all allergic diseases.

In her initial appointment with Sean Stanga, M.D., a dual board-certified physician in pediatrics and allergy and immunology, she was able to share her allergy symptoms, history, and past treatments and testing. During this consultation, Dr. Stanga also did initial skin testing. “I didn’t have to take more time off work or come back another day, which was really considerate,” says Anna.

The results surprised them both: Anna didn’t have as many environmental allergens as expected, but she was really reactive to both cats and dogs. As a dog owner, she needed effective allergy treatment.

Dr. Stanga shared that Anna would be a great candidate for RapImmune®, an intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) that uses the same FDA-licensed allergen extracts as traditional allergy shots but changes the route of delivery. The extract is placed directly into a lymph node in the upper thigh using ultrasound guidance. This is designed to stop the immune system from overreacting to certain allergens including pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. “For the right patient, the biggest advantage of RapImmune® is time,” says Dr. Stanga. “Traditional allergy shots can require years of regular appointments. With this approach, we can deliver a full course of allergen immunotherapy in just three treatment visits.” Allergenix is currently the only clinic in Iowa offering intralymphatic immunotherapy.

“For the right patient, the biggest advantage of RapImmune® is time,” says Dr. Stanga. “Traditional allergy shots can require years of regular appointments. With this approach, we can deliver a full course of allergen immunotherapy in just three treatment visits.”

RapImmune® intralymphatic immunotherapy requires one injection each month. “I really can’t emphasize enough how easy the shots were,” says Anna. “I felt a small scratch on my skin, but it was honestly not as bad as getting blood drawn or a vaccine.” Following the injections, patients will have a check-up appointment every three to six months for the next year, which can be in-person or through telehealth. Some patients might need a booster, though it’s uncommon.

After the first injection, Anna already started to feel significantly better. Now, with her treatment complete, “the biggest thing I notice is my eyes aren’t itchy in the morning,” she says. “And I’ve gotten my sleep back.”

Because Allergenix is a direct specialty care clinic, costs are known up front and payment is taken or arranged during your appointment. “Our model lets us remove a lot of the friction between a patient and their specialist,” says Dr. Stanga. “Patients can get in immediately without a referral, they know what their care will cost before they walk through the door, and we can make decisions based on what they need rather than what an insurance plan dictates.”

Anna considers the time and money she will now save not having to drive to the pharmacy or purchase several allergy medications each month. “Not to mention how much quicker I felt better than I would have doing traditional allergy shots,” she says. “It’s hard to quantify all the benefits.”

To find out more about Allergenix, make an appointment, and view treatment costs, visit allergenix.com.

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