Study by Local Allergist, Dr. Daniel Soteres, Shows Astounding Findings
Colorado Springs, CO. 2/21/18 – “Peanut desensitization or Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) protocols have been around for several years,” says Dr. Daniel F. Soteres, MD of Asthma and Allergy Associates, PC in Colorado Springs. “Here at Asthma & Allergy Associates I’ve been doing these protocols for at least four years. It’s very fulfilling. I remember our first patient, Luke. One of the happiest moments was when I wrote a letter saying that he no longer had to sit at the ‘peanut-free table’ at school. He was in fourth grade at that time. He gave me one of those smiles that is reminder of why I love my job. Luke is a in junior high school now. As part of this protocol he eats several peanuts twice a day, every day. It took a couple of months to build up his tolerance to peanuts, but he has done well since.”
Recent Studies
The first successful studies for peanut desensitization protocols came out of North Carolina with Dr. Wesley Burkes. Now the studies are being replicated all over the world. Most recently a group of physicians published an article in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reporting their experience with Oral Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy. They report that 85 percent of patients (n=352) achieved the target dose of peanut. From a total of 352 patients and 240,351 doses there were 95 reactions that required epinephrine. Most of the reactions occurred during a period of close observation after the dose was given.
Now the news has been reported in the Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal, “Kids with Peanut Allergies Get Some Relief, Study Finds.” The articles focus on a publication in The Lancet out of the United Kingdom. This study included 99 children, ages 7 to 16. For half of the kids they gave an escalating dose of peanut protein during a 26 week period. The other half were placed in the control group and they continued to avoid peanuts. Most adverse reaction were mild like oral itching which was the most common. After 6 months, 80 percent of the kids could tolerate up to 5 peanuts per day and 62 percent of the kids could tolerate up to 10 peanuts per day.
What Are The Risks?
“The most common side effects include oral itching during the build-up phase and abdominal pain. Of course, there is a risk of more severe reactions and we have seen that in a few patients.”
What Are The Long-Term Results?
“The long term efficacy of Oral Immunotherapy for food allergies is unproven. In fact in some studies when the daily peanut dose is stopped, up to 80 percent of patients return to being allergic to peanuts. So, if you decide to do OIT for peanut allergy then understand that the plan is to continue the protocol for a long time.”
At Asthma & Allergy Associates in Colorado Springs, Dr. Daniel F. Soteres has performed Oral Immunotherapy or Peanut Desensitization in many children and one adult.
If you want to learn more, just call Dr. Soteres and the other food allergy doctors at AACOS in Colorado Springs for a consultation today!