Where did ILIT come from?
Zurich, in the 2000s. The first randomised trial, in grass-pollen allergy, compared three intralymphatic injections over eight weeks with three years of conventional shots and found similar symptom relief.
About ILIT
About ILIT
Intralymphatic immunotherapy, explained.
Allergy immunotherapy teaches the immune system to tolerate an allergen by exposing it to small, rising doses. Conventional shots do that under the skin, over three to five years, and rely on the allergen finding its way to the lymph nodes where tolerance is learned. ILIT puts the allergen in the lymph node directly: three injections, four weeks apart, guided by ultrasound into a node in the groin.
Because the dose reaches the right cells at once, far less allergen and far fewer visits are needed. Most courses are finished in about eight weeks, with each visit around thirty minutes including the observation period afterwards.
3Injections
4 wksBetween doses
~30 minPer visit
No allergen extract is FDA-approved for intralymphatic use; in the United States ILIT is given off-label with extracts licensed for other routes. Protocols vary between practitioners.
What the evidence says
Plainly, including what it does not say.
Does it work for every allergen?
Trials since have covered grass, birch and other tree pollens, cat, dust mite and ragweed. Most found benefit; a few, with different doses or intervals, did not. The three-dose, four-week protocol has the most consistent results.
How long does the effect last?
Published follow-up extends to three years in the larger studies, with one small report beyond that. The ten-year data that exists for conventional shots does not yet exist for ILIT.
Is it safe?
Reported side effects are mostly local: a brief pinch, mild discomfort or swelling at the node. Systemic reactions have been rare in the published series, which is why practitioners still observe you after each dose.
Who should not have it?
Uncontrolled asthma, pregnancy, beta blockers and some cardiac conditions rule it out. Only an allergist who has examined you can say.
Is it approved?
No. ILIT is not FDA-approved for any allergen. Where it is offered in the United States it is given off-label, at the discretion of the treating physician, with licensed extracts.
What does it cost?
Practitioners set their own fees, typically $2,000–$4,000 for the full course. Insurance does not usually cover off-label treatment; HSA and FSA funds can be used.
How do I start?
With a consultation: history, examination and, if needed, allergy testing. The allergist decides whether ILIT suits you and which allergens go in the vial.
Read more in the Journal
What happens at a consultation, what the trials show, how ILIT compares with shots and tablets, written and reviewed by listed allergists.
Open the JournalFor allergists
Do you offer ILIT?
A listing puts your practice on the map, names you as the supervising allergist, and links straight to your own website and phone. Free, verified, yours to keep current.
- Free. The Society takes no payment for placement and does not rank listings.
- Verified. We check board certification; you supply the protocol, allergens and hours.
- One listing per office, each on the map.
Open to board-certified allergists and immunologists administering intralymphatic immunotherapy in the United States.
Important information about ILIT
ILIT is not approved by the FDA for any allergen. Where it is offered in the United States it is administered off-label, at the discretion of the treating physician, using extracts licensed for other routes.
Not everyone is a candidate. Uncontrolled asthma, certain cardiac conditions, pregnancy and some medications rule it out. Only an allergist who has examined you can say.
This directory is an information resource, not medical advice, and a listing is not a recommendation. ILIT Society accepts no payment for placement and does not rank practitioners.
Trials to date have been small. Published follow-up extends to three years; individual results vary. Discuss risks, alternatives and cost with a qualified allergist before starting treatment.