Biomaterial Database

Oral desensitization for milk allergy in children: state of the art. 2011

Giovanni B Pajno

Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Allergy Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Giovanni.Pajno@unime.it

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review is to research current evidence on cow's milk oral immunotherapy for the treatment of cow's milk allergy (CMA). RESULTS The specific, active treatment for IgE-mediated food allergy included CMA, which is currently being investigated in human trials. Allergen-specific approaches include oral, sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapy. Reports on oral immunotherapy (OIT) for the treatment of milk allergy have been more extensive and carried out mostly with native proteins. The aim of OIT with cow's milk is the achievement of desensitization or tolerance by patients suffering from CMA. Desensitization state can be achieved by approximately 36-92% of the children treated with specific immunotherapy; the rate of permanent tolerance is unknown. Longer duration of desensitization may result in permanent tolerance. The possibility of adverse events or reactions during OIT is quite frequent. Side-effects have been reported by patients in all published studies. CONCLUSIONS OIT as an active treatment for CMA represents an emerging reality. Before this treatment can be used in clinical practice, additional studies are needed. Currently, many issues remain unanswered: severity and type of food allergy responsive to specific immunotherapy, degree of protection, 'shared schedules' of desensitization(s) in research settings and well established risk-to-benefit ratio. However the field of specific, active treatment of food allergy is poised for clinically important advances.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007108	Immune Tolerance	The specific failure of a normally responsive individual to make an immune response to a known antigen. It results from previous contact with the antigen by an immunologically immature individual (fetus or neonate) or by an adult exposed to extreme high-dose or low-dose antigen, or by exposure to radiation, antimetabolites, antilymphocytic serum, etc.	Immunosuppression (Physiology),Immunosuppressions (Physiology),Tolerance, Immune
D008894	Milk Proteins	The major protein constituents of milk are CASEINS and whey proteins such as LACTALBUMIN and LACTOGLOBULINS. IMMUNOGLOBULINS occur in high concentrations in COLOSTRUM and in relatively lower concentrations in milk. (Singleton and Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed, p554)	Milk Protein,Protein, Milk,Proteins, Milk
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D003888	Desensitization, Immunologic	Immunosuppression by the administration of increasing doses of antigen. Though the exact mechanism is not clear, the therapy results in an increase in serum levels of allergen-specific IMMUNOGLOBULIN G, suppression of specific IgE, and an increase in suppressor T-cell activity.	Allergen Immunotherapy,Allergy Shots,Hyposensitization Therapy,Immunotherapy, Allergen,Venom Immunotherapy,Immunologic Desensitization,Therapy, Hyposensitization,Allergen Immunotherapies,Allergy Shot,Desensitizations, Immunologic,Hyposensitization Therapies,Immunologic Desensitizations,Immunotherapy, Venom,Shot, Allergy,Venom Immunotherapies
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000284	Administration, Oral	The giving of drugs, chemicals, or other substances by mouth.	Drug Administration, Oral,Administration, Oral Drug,Oral Administration,Oral Drug Administration,Administrations, Oral,Administrations, Oral Drug,Drug Administrations, Oral,Oral Administrations,Oral Drug Administrations
D000485	Allergens	Antigen-type substances that produce immediate hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE).	Allergen
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia