Food allergies and hypersensitivity: a review of pharmacotherapy and therapeutic strategies.
BACKGROUND
Food allergy is a major cause of life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. Food-induced anaphylaxis is the most common reason for someone to present to the emergency department for an anaphylactic reaction. At present, the avoidance of the allergenic food is the only method of preventing further reactions for allergic patients.


OBJECTIVE
With better characterization of allergens and an understanding of the immunologic mechanism involved in this reaction, investigators have developed several therapeutic modalities potentially applicable to the treatment and eventual prevention of food allergy. This review identifies and discusses the potential treatment options for food allergy that are under development.


METHODS
Relevant articles are reviewed pertaining to the treatment of food allergy.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the therapeutic options currently under investigation are anti-IgE therapy, peptide immunotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine, mutated protein immunotherapy, DNA immunization and immunization with immunostimulatory sequences linked to allergens. These novel forms of treatment for allergic disease hold promise for the safe and effective treatment of food-allergic individuals and the prevention of food allergy in the future.
Burks
Wesley
W
Duke University Medical Center, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Box 3530, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Wesley.Burks@duke.edu
Kulis
Mike
M
Pons
Laurent
L
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009154:Mutation; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D007073:Immunoglobulin E