title: Clinical studies in oral allergen-specific immunotherapy: differences among allergens.
abstract: Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a significant focus of treatment of food allergy. OIT appears to be effective in inducing desensitization, however, patients receiving OIT frequently developmild/moderate symptoms during the therapy. It has not been clearly established whether the clinical tolerance induced by OIT resembles natural tolerance. According to our data, the efficacy of OIT is different among food antigens, and it is comparatively difficult to achieve the clinical tolerance in milk OIT. Moreover, the definitive evidence of efficacy and safety with long-term therapy is limited. Further studies need to be offered to patients in clinical practice. Recently, novel treatments for food allergy, sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapy, and combination treatment with an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (omalizumab), have been examined in some studies. OIT combined with omalizumab increased the threshold doses of food without adverse reactions and may be of benefit in food allergy treatment. More studies are needed to demonstrate long-term safety and treatment benefits in a larger patient cohort.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Sakura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanagida
authors.forename: Kiyotake
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Katsuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iikura
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asaumi
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Syukuya
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebisawa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens