Question

A 25-year-old woman presents with watery eyes and a runny nose. The symptoms get worse after she has been outside, especially if she plays in the grass with her 2-year-old. Allergy testing reveals that she is highly allergic to several grass pollens. Allergy shots using grass pollens as the antigens might be helpful.

Question
Considering the most likely diagnosis and treatment intervention, what mechanism will reduce the patient's symptoms?

Decreased production of allergy-specific IgA
Decreased production of allergy-specific IgE
Decreased production of allergy-specific IgG
Degradation of allergy-specific antibodies
Reduced levels of IL-10

Answer 1

For a 25-year-old woman likely suffering from allergic rhinitis, immunotherapy can potentially reduce symptoms by decreasing the production of allergy-specific IgE antibodies.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 25-year-old woman with symptoms that worsen after being outdoors, especially when in contact with grass, and who has been found highly allergic to several grass pollens through allergy testing, is likely suffering from allergic rhinitis, often referred to as hay fever.

Treatments like immunotherapy, or allergy shots using grass pollens, can be effective for this condition. The mechanism by which immunotherapy would reduce the patient's symptoms is through the decreased production of allergy-specific IgE antibodies.

Over time, the immune system becomes desensitized to the allergens, which leads to a reduced allergic response and symptom relief.