A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of milk oral immunotherapy for cow’s milk allergy. 2008

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Dec;122(6):1154-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.09.030. Epub 2008 Oct 25.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of milk oral immunotherapy for cow’s milk allergy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Orally administered, food-specific immunotherapy appears effective in desensitizing and potentially permanently tolerizing allergic individuals.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to determine whether milk oral immunotherapy (OIT) is safe and efficacious in desensitizing children with cow’s milk allergy.

METHODS:

Twenty children were randomized to milk or placebo OIT (2:1 ratio). Dosing included 3 phases: the build-up day (initial dose, 0.4 mg of milk protein; final dose, 50 mg), daily doses with 8 weekly in-office dose increases to a maximum of 500 mg, and continued daily maintenance doses for 3 to 4 months. Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges; end-point titration skin prick tests; and milk protein serologic studies were performed before and after OIT.

RESULTS:

Nineteen patients, 6 to 17 years of age, completed treatment: 12 in the active group and 7 in the placebo group. One dropped out because of persistent eczema during dose escalation. Baseline median milk IgE levels in the active (n = 13) versus placebo (n = 7) groups were 34.8 kUa/L (range, 4.86-314 kUa/L) versus 14.6 kUa/L (range, 0.93-133.4 kUa/L). The median milk threshold dose in both groups was 40 mg at the baseline challenge. After OIT, the median cumulative dose inducing a reaction in the active treatment group was 5140 mg (range 2540-8140 mg), whereas all patients in the placebo group reacted at 40 mg (P = .0003). Among 2437 active OIT doses versus 1193 placebo doses, there were 1107 (45.4%) versus 134 (11.2%) total reactions, with local symptoms being most common. Milk-specific IgE levels did not change significantly in either group. Milk IgG levels increased significantly in the active treatment group, with a predominant milk IgG4 level increase.

CONCLUSIONS:

Milk OIT appears to be efficacious in the treatment of cow’s milk allergy. The side-effect profile appears acceptable but requires further study.

LINK TO: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of milk oral immunotherapy for cow’s milk allergy. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. 122(6):1154-60, 2008 Dec

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18951617

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