Press Release

Contact:
mgraham@aaaai.org
(414) 272-6071
Onsite Press Room (March 4-7): (213) 743-6242

WHAT HAPPENS TO FOOD ALLERGIES AFTER TREATMENT WITH ORAL IMMUNOTHERAPY?

Research at AAAAI Annual Meeting shows many patients adhere to home dosing

Los Angeles, CA – Researchers from Stanford University are reporting essential, long-term follow-up data for patients who achieved food allergy desensitization through multiple oral immunotherapy (OIT) protocols.

During OIT, the patient consumes small but increasing amounts of the food allergen in a controlled setting with the hope that the patient will become desensitized or tolerant to it. However, more research is required to develop accepted protocols and understand how the patients fare after treatment. How long does desensitization last? Do patients eventually achieve complete tolerance of the allergen? Do patients adhere to their regular dosing of the allergen? What happens if they stop eating the allergen?

Kari Nadeau, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, from the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research at Stanford University School of Medicine, is hoping to answer some of these questions with data that will be presented at the 2016 AAAAI Annual Meeting.

“We checked in with 70 patients who previously completed phase 1 clinical trials for multiple OIT – some using standard protocols and others using omalizumab rapit OIT protocols – to better understand the efficacy, frequency and quantity of home dosing,” Nadeau said.

In the 18 to 73 months after desensitization was reached in one cohort, 22 (56%) chose to consume 2g of each allergen’s proteins and 13 (33%) consumed between 300mg and 2g of each allergen’s protein. In the other cohort, follow-up time ranged from 11 to 46 months and 9 (30%) chose to consume 2g doses while 18 (60%) chose to consume between 300mg and 2g doses.

Overall, patients involved regularly consumed home doses that maintained desensitization.

“We repeated food challenges and all subjects in both groups remained desensitized to at least 2g of each of their food allergens, even those who chose to consume smaller home doses as little as three times per week,” Nadeau said.

For more information on food allergies or the AAAAI Annual Meeting, visit the AAAAI website. Research presented at the AAAAI Annual Meeting will be published in an online supplement to The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,800 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries. The AAAAI’s Find an Allergist/Immunologist service is a trusted resource to help you find a specialist close to home.

###

Editor's notes:
·    This study was presented during the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, March 4-7 in Los Angeles. However, it does not necessarily reflect the policies or the opinions of the AAAAI.
·    A link to all abstracts presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting is available at annualmeeting.aaaai.org.