Received 15 March 2004; received in revised form 15 March 2004; accepted 16 March 2004.
Abstract
Tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of food-based allergic disorders over the past 5 years. Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that nearly 4% of Americans are afflicted with food allergies, a prevalence much higher than appreciated in the past. In addition, the prevalence of peanut allergy was found to have doubled in American children less than 5 years of age in the past 5 years. Many food allergens have been characterized at the molecular level, which has contributed to our increased understanding of the immunopathogenesis of many allergic disorders and might soon lead to novel diagnostic and immunotherapeutic approaches. The management of food allergies continues to consist of educating patients on how to avoid relevant allergens, to recognize early symptoms of an allergic reaction in case of an accidental ingestion, and to initiate the appropriate emergency therapy. However, the recent successful clinical trial of anti-IgE therapy in patients with peanut allergy and the number of immunomodulatory therapies in the pipeline provide real hope that we will soon be able to treat patients with food allergy.
New York, NYThis activity is available for CME credit. See page 34A for important information.
From the Department of Pediatrics and Immunobiology and the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine USA
Reprint requests: Hugh A. Sampson, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Box 1198, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574.
☆ Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: H. Sampson has consultant arrangements with Seer Pharmaceuticals and receives grants/research support from Pharmacia Diagnostics.
ABSTRACT