Is Oral Immunotherapy the Cure for Food Allergies?

Purpose of review: To review current evidence on food oral immunotherapy (OIT).
Recent findings: Desensitized state, defined as the ingestion of a substantial amount of food in the home diet that protects from severe reactions to accidental exposures, can be achieved by approximately 50–75% of the children treated with OIT. The rate of permanent tolerance is unknown; the longer duration of OIT may result in permanent tolerance. Side effects are common both during the initial dose escalation and during home dosing. Most reactions are mild (oral pruritus, abdominal discomfort, and rashes) and decrease in frequency with the longer duration of OIT. Severe reactions treated with epinephrine have been reported during home dosing. Factors associated with increased risk of reactions to previously tolerated doses during home dosing include exercise, viral infection, dosing on empty stomach, menses, and asthma exacerbation.

Nowak-Węgrzyn A & Fiocchi A. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010; 10(5):vii-ix.  Authors are from the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute and Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA and Department of Child & Maternal Medicine, University of Milan Medical School at the Melloni Hospital, Milan, Italy.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/726430