18 Apr Oral Peanut Immunotherapy Evaluated for Preschool Children

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Soller

Lianne Soller, PhD
Allergy Research Manager
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, Canada  

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: In 2017, a clinical trial of 37 subjects demonstrated that preschool peanut oral immunotherapy was safe, with predominantly mild symptoms reported and only one moderate reaction requiring epinephrine. Our study aimed to examine whether these findings would be applicable in a real-world setting (i.e., outside of research).

We found that peanut oral immunotherapy is safe in the vast majority of preschoolers, with only 0.4% of patients experiencing a severe reaction, and only 12 out of ~40,000 peanut doses needed epinephrine (0.03%). 

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Peanut oral immunotherapy can be offered safely in preschoolers outside of research. However, it should only be done under allergist supervision, due to the risk of allergic reactions.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: Our future work will involve following the children from our study long term, to study safety and effectiveness of peanut oral immunotherapy, as well as quality of life outcomes. We also need more data from the real-world on oral immunotherapy to other foods, and for other age groups, to make the treatment safer and more accessible. 

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: This study is a game changer for allergists, as well as for families, because it gives renewed hope that there is something that they can do for their child. If you intervene early (in preschool age), then you can prevent some of the long term consequences of food allergies such as bullying, depression, anxiety.

No relevant disclosures. 

Citation: 

Lianne Soller, Elissa M. Abrams, Stuart Carr, Sandeep Kapur, Gregory A. Rex, Sara Leo, Per G. Lidman, Joanne Yeung, Timothy K. Vander Leek, Mary McHenry, Tiffany Wong, Victoria E. Cook, Kyla J. Hildebrand, Thomas V. Gerstner, Raymond Mak, Nicole J. Lee, Scott B. Cameron, Edmond S. Chan. First Real-World Safety Analysis of Preschool Peanut Oral Immunotherapy. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 2019; DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.04.010

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Last Updated on April 18, 2019 by Marie Benz MD FAAD