title: Apheresis in food allergies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of IgE-mediated food allergy and anaphylaxis has risen rapidly in developed countries, and countries with rapid industrialization may follow. Therapies include elimination diets, Oral ImmunoTherapy, and the administration of biologics, but high serum IgE levels may preclude their use. Consequently, decreasing IgE becomes a rational approach and could be obtained by immunoapheresis. The aim of this review is to evaluate the rationale and advantages of immunoapheresis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the available adsorbers remove aspecifically all classes of immunoglobulins. Recently, IgE-specific adsorbers have been approved. Data on immunoapheresis for the treatment of allergic diseases with pathologically elevated IgE levels are emerging. In atopic dermatitis, this therapy alone seems to be beneficial. IgE-selective apheresis appears to be sufficient to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis in multiple food allergy (MFA) and, when IgE titers are high, to open the way to treatment with Omalizumab.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prospective studies, with well designed protocols, are needed to assess the efficacy, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness of immunoapheresis in the field of food allergy.
authors.affiliation: aUniversity Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy bDepartment of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Unit of Immuno-Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Vatican City, Italy.
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dahdah
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Mariacristina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artesani
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riccardi
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mazzina
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E