Allergy Division
The Allergy Division provides diagnostic and treatment services for patients suffering from allergies and allergic asthma.
An allergic response is an overreaction of a person’s immune system to a normally harmless substance in the environment. These substances, called allergens, are commonly found in the air we breathe, such as dust, dust mites, pollens and pet dander. Besides ambient allergens, some people are allergic to certain types of foods, drugs and the venom in insect stings.
Allergic asthma is a form of asthma -- a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways -- triggered by allergens.
Diseases We Treat
Based in New York City, the doctors in the Allergy Division are skilled in treating a broad range of allergic conditions, including:
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Allergic asthma
- Hives
- Food allergies
- Drug allergies
- Insect stings
Allergic reactions can range from mild, such as a runny nose due to pollen, to severe, such as when someone hypersensitive to bee venom goes into an anaphylactic shot after being stung.
In addition to helping patients manage allergies, our allergists are also immunologists who treat patients with recurrent infections.
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Procedures We Perform
Our specialists are highly skilled in conducting diagnostic tests and providing effective treatment regimes.
Diagnostics
Our allergists use various tests to identify the specific cause (or causes) of a patient’s allergic reaction. They include:
- Skin tests (the gold standard for allergy evaluation)
- Blood tests
- Patch tests
- Breathing tests
- Immunotherapy and Medication
The typical treatments for allergies are immunotherapy (allergy shots) and medications.
Allergy shots are given to patients over a long-term period -- often several years -- in gradually stronger doses until a maintenance dose is reached. This form of treatment builds up a person’s immunity and can reduce or even eliminate the hypersensitive response to an allergen.
But the efficacy of allergy shots varies depending on the severity of a patient’s allergies and the number of substances to which the person is allergic. Immunotherapy, however, is considered effective for various allergens, including pollens, dust, dust mites, molds, pet dander and the venom of insect stings. It is also used to treat allergic asthma.
In addition to immunotherapy, our allergists prescribe various medications to control allergy symptoms, such as antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroids, as well as innovative pharmaceuticals like Xolair, a humanized antibody drug.
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Cutting-Edge Research
The doctors in this division have been involved in various leading-edge clinical research, including a study on allergies and depression.
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Our Doctors
The division is led by Ira Finegold, MD, a highly experienced allergist and immunologist, and includes various other skilled professionals, including:
Ama Alexis, MD
Nate Horne, MD
Arthur Lubitz, MD
David Mazza, MD
Martin Pine, MD
Vahid Rahimian, DO
Deborah Weichenberg, MD
Audrey Weissman, MD
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Contact Us
For information, an appointment or a consultation, you can contact us at various locations in Manhattan, including the Upper West Side and East Harlem.
UMPA at 59th Street
425 West 59th Street, Suite 8A
New York, NY 10019
212-492-5500
UMPA at Madison Avenue
1827 Madison Avenue at 119th Street
New York, NY 10035
25 Central Park West 1N
New York, NY 10022
212-832-0320
121 East 60th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212-832-0320
Useful Links
Ira Finegold, MD, NY Allergy-Immunology
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
World Allergy Organization