Basophil Activation Test for the Improved Diagnosis of Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy

Purpose of review: As an ex-vivo test of allergic effector cell activation, basophil activation testing (BAT) to allergen enables quantification of the in-vivo IgE-mediated allergic response. BAT thus holds promise in the diagnosis and monitoring of peanut and tree nut allergies. Recent systematic analyses and expert recommendations support a role for BAT in the diagnosis […]

Management of Anaphylaxis During Peanut Oral Immunotherapy.

Background: Peanut oral immunotherapy (POIT) has emerged as an active management option for peanut allergy, with an FDA-approved product now available for therapy. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can occur during therapy and their management is key in optimizing this treatment and patient outcomes. Purpose of review: In this manuscript, we will review the rates of […]

Oral Immunotherapy for Food Allergy—a US Regulatory Perspective.

The recent approval of Palforzia for treatment of peanut allergy by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) predicts that additional products for oral immunotherapy (OIT) are on the horizon. In this article, the authors review the legal framework by which the USFDA regulates products for OIT of food allergy and the clinical data that […]

Peanut Oral Immunotherapy: a Current Perspective.

Purpose of the review: Peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) is one of the most studied experimental therapies for food allergy. With the recently FDA-approved peanut product, Palforzia, the goal of this article is to review the most recent data from clinical trials, discuss recent trends, and anticipate future developments. Recent findings: The latest research suggests that peanut OIT […]

Prevention of Non-peanut Food Allergies.

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review article is to discuss the recent literature around methods of prevention of food allergies other than peanut allergy. Recent findings: While the most robust data to date exists for peanut, there are emerging studies suggesting a beneficial effect to early introduction of cooked egg, and cow's milk […]

Microbial Adjuncts for Food Allergen Immunotherapy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Food allergen immunotherapy may benefit from adjunct therapies to enhance safety and efficacy. We review preclinical studies investigating the effects of probiotics and other microbial-based interventions on oral tolerance, describe the human clinical trial evidence thus far for microbial adjuncts, and discuss steps for translating research findings in this area to clinical […]

Tree nut allergy

Tree nuts are clinically associated with severe immunoglobulin E-mediated systemic allergic reactions independent of pollen allergy and with reactions that are usually confined to the oral mucosa in patients with immunoglobulin E directed toward cross-reacting pollen allergens. The latter reactions can progress to severe and life-threatening episodes in some patients. Many patients with severe tree […]