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Immunotherapy for peanut allergies: What is the benefit versus the risk?

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This spring, American Scientist  and MSNBC reported the results of a study conducted by Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital that allowed 5 individuals with allergies to eat "former" allergens. The five are still required to carry life-saving epi-pens in the event the trial was not as effective as allergists expected. They are also regularly monitored to ensure safety. In addition, the researchers are now wondering if the five patients will they re-develop the allergy. Researchers are also still deciding what patient populations are potential candidates for this controversial possible allergy therapy.

According to MSNBC, lead researcher, Dr. Wesley Burks, Duke’s chief of allergy commented, “We’re optimistic that they have lost their peanut allergy. We’ve not seen this before medically. We’ll have to see what happens to them.”

Burks gave allergy sufferers hope when he wrote in the Lancet, "I think there is some type of immunotherapy that will be available in five years. And the reason I say that is there are… multiple types of studies that are going on now."

However, the report terrified many parents who have witnessed or experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction, such as one mother who describes her fear in this MSNBC report, citing a risk versus benefit rational for avoiding peanuts at all cost. To clarify, the Duke study does not provide the OK to "test" already-diagnosed allergic individuals using "at home" food trials which could be dangerous when not conducted under allergist supervision.

It is important to keep in mind that, particularly for pediatric patients, it is essential to follow allergists' directives. It is also important to remember that not all allergy tests results are completely accurate and that they require an allergist to interpret results. Combining results from allergy tests and in-hospital supervised food trials is sometimes required to compile the most accurate allergy data. Given that not all food allergy blood tests are completely reliable, always follow the advice of an allergist and avoid at-home, unsupervised "food trials" unless your allergist has specifically provided a written directive to trial a new food at home.  In that event, follow your physician’s directions. For individuals with life threatening food allergies, it is not advised, or safe, to try even 1/10 teaspoon of an allergen (gradually building up to a whole teaspoon of the allergic food) without an allergist’s written recommendations.

For multiple, though less severe allergies,  sublingual immunotherapy, more specifically, sublingual food drops, which require extensive allergy testing and are currently being studied by the University of Missouri-Columbia, are a possible solution. Some individuals with allergies swear by sublingual food drops to expand the diet when managing multiple, though less-severe food allergies.

 

Of course, before trying any new allergy remedy, always consult with your allergist. Often, food allergies require complex management strategies, so it is always best to get a second opinion. Consulting allergists with different backgrounds and expertise can present varying perspectives that may also benefit individuals with less-than-obvious allergy symptoms.

 

Finally, feel free to send in your favorite local and national allergy resources, recipes and products to phillywellness09@gmail.com. I look forward to checking out your tried-and-true-allergy-friendly favorites, which I will compile and post for everyone to share.

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