title: Specific immunotherapy ameliorates ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypersensitivity reaction to certain allergens plays a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aims to observe the effect of specific immunotherapy in a group of IBD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with both ulcerative colitis (UC) and food allergy were recruited into this study. Food allergy was diagnosed by skin prick test and serum specific IgE. The patients were treated with specific immunotherapy (SIT) and Clostridium butyricum (CB) capsules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treating with SIT and CB, the clinical symptoms of UC were markedly suppressed as shown by reduced truncated Mayo scores and medication scores. The serum levels of specific IgE, interleukin (IL)-4 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were also suppressed. Treating with SIT alone or CB alone did not show appreciable improvement of the clinical symptoms of UC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UC with food allergy can be ameliorated by administration with SIT and butyrate-production probiotics.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Cai
authors: The Center of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Zeng
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors: Lin-Jing
authors: LJ
authors: Li
authors: The Center of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
authors: Li-Hua
authors: LH
authors: Mo
authors: The Center of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
authors: Rui-Di
authors: RD
authors: Xie
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors: Bai-Sui
authors: BS
authors: Feng
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors: Peng-Yuan
authors: PY
authors: Zheng
authors: The Center of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
authors: Zhi-Gang
authors: ZG
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Zhan-Ju
authors: ZJ
authors: Liu
authors: The Center of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
authors: Ping-Chang
authors: PC
authors: Yang
keywords: B lymphocyte; Food allergy; Immunoglobulin E; Inflammation; Intestine