Children who were treated with oral immunotherapy for cows' milk allergy showed long-term desensitisation seven years later.
OBJECTIVE
This was a follow-up of 28 schoolchildren with cows' milk allergy (CMA) who attended a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled oral immunotherapy (OIT) study. In the original study, 26 (92.9%) completed the six-month escalation phase, and 25 (89.3%) used milk daily at 12 months and 24 (85.7%) at 36 months. This study evaluated the outcome seven years later, with special attention paid to milk consumption and symptoms.


METHODS
Outcome data were collected through a postal questionnaire completed three, four and five years after enrolment and by a phone questionnaire after seven years. We asked about the daily dose of milk products, any adverse reactions, any medication needed and possible discontinuation of daily milk consumption.


RESULTS
Data were available at the seven-year point for 24 children and 14 (58.3%) of these continued to use milk (≥200 mL) or milk products (protein ≥6400 mg) daily for seven years. However, three (21.4%) of these still reported symptoms associated with milk consumption. Of the 10 remaining children, two children used milk products daily but consumed less due to symptoms and eight (33.3%) had discontinued milk consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral immunotherapy was an effective and safe way of desensitising schoolchildren with persistent CMA.
Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.|Centre for Child Health Research, Tampere University and University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Marita
M
Paassilta
Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.|Centre for Child Health Research, Tampere University and University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Susanna
S
Salmivesi
Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Tiina
T
Mäki
Science Centre, Pirkanmaa Hospital District and School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland.
Mika
M
Helminen
Centre for Child Health Research, Tampere University and University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Matti
M
Korppi
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
Anaphylaxis; Cows' milk allergy; Follow-up; Food allergy; Oral immunotherapy