Low-Dose Oral Immunotherapy Using Low-Egg-Allergen Cookies for Severe Egg-Allergic Children Reduces Allergy Severity and Affects Allergen-Specific Antibodies in Serum.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of low-egg-allergen cookies (LAC) as low-dose oral immunotherapy (OIT) in children with severe egg allergy. We also examined the relationship between mild desensitization by low-dose OIT and serum biomarkers of allergy.

METHODS:

We enrolled 13 children with egg allergy who could not receive OIT with hard-boiled egg white (EW). For 11 participants, OIT was carried out using LAC for 3-4 months. Open food challenges with hard-boiled EW and blood samplings were performed before and after OIT. Participants were divided into 2 groups: high effect (H-E) and no/low effect (N/L-E). Serum levels of total IgE and egg yolk-, EW-, and ovomucoid (OM)-specific IgE, ovalbumin (OVA)- and OM-specific IgG4, IgA1, and IgA2, and the percentage of CD 203c+ were measured.

RESULTS:

Allergic severity was reduced in 7 patients, who were assigned to the H-E group. Moreover, no study participants were taken off the intake of LAC during OIT. In the H-E group, OVA-specific IgA2 levels after OIT were significantly higher than before OIT. The ratios of OM-specific IgG4/OM-specific IgE and OM-specific IgA2/OM-specific IgE in the H-E group after OIT were significantly higher than before OIT.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings suggest that low-dose OIT using LAC is an effective and safe treatment for patients with severe egg allergy.

• Authors: Akihiro Maeta, Marin Matsushima, Nozomi Muraki, Mariko Asano, Yuri Takaoka, Makoto Kameda, Kyoko Takahashi
• Journal: International archives of allergy and immunology (Int Arch Allergy Immunol) Vol. 175 Issue 1-2 Pg. 70-76 ( 2018) ISSN: 1423-0097 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 29332094 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Egg Proteins
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Allergens (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Desensitization, Immunologic (methods)
• Eating
• Egg Hypersensitivity (immunology, therapy)
• Egg Proteins (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Eggs
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Male
• Treatment Outcome