Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy

Abstract Background Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has become the standard of care for children with food allergy (FA) and has substantially improved their quality of life. The effect of OIT on the quality of life in adults, however, has been studied to a much lesser degree. Methods Patients with food all...

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Main Authors: Na’ama Epstein-Rigbi, Michael B. Levy, Liat Nachshon, Yael Koren, Michael R. Goldberg, Arnon Elizur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-10-01
Series:Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-024-00915-6
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author Na’ama Epstein-Rigbi
Michael B. Levy
Liat Nachshon
Yael Koren
Michael R. Goldberg
Arnon Elizur
author_facet Na’ama Epstein-Rigbi
Michael B. Levy
Liat Nachshon
Yael Koren
Michael R. Goldberg
Arnon Elizur
author_sort Na’ama Epstein-Rigbi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has become the standard of care for children with food allergy (FA) and has substantially improved their quality of life. The effect of OIT on the quality of life in adults, however, has been studied to a much lesser degree. Methods Patients with food allergy aged ≥ 18 years who underwent OIT at Shamir Medical Center completed the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) before and at the end of treatment. Adults with FA not undergoing OIT who completed the FAQLQ-AF at 2 time points, served as controls. Results A total of 44 adults, median age 23.4 years, who underwent OIT for milk (n = 19), egg (n = 2), peanut (n = 9), sesame (n = 6), and tree nuts (n = 8), and 11 controls were studied. The median OIT starting dose was 23.8 mg protein. 33 patients (75%) reached full desensitization within a median of 10.3 months. The FAQLQ-AF baseline scores were comparable between the study and control groups for all items except for Food Allergy related Health (FAH) item in which the study group had a significantly better score (p = 0.02). At the second time point, the study group had significantly better scores in all items (Allergen Avoidance and Dietary Restrictions (AADR), p = 0.02; and Emotional Impact (EI), Risk of Allergen Exposure (RAE), FAH and the Total Score, p < 0.01). The change in scores for the study group was significantly better, statistically and clinically, in AADR, p = 0.04; EI, p < 0.01; RAE, p = 0.01, and in the total score, p = 0.01. Conclusions OIT significantly improves quality of life of adults with FA. This finding adds important support for providing OIT in this population.
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spelling doaj-art-2ebdae13f6fa4e7b9365172ac2d543c62025-08-20T01:50:38ZengBMCAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology1710-14922024-10-012011910.1186/s13223-024-00915-6Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergyNa’ama Epstein-Rigbi0Michael B. Levy1Liat Nachshon2Yael Koren3Michael R. Goldberg4Arnon Elizur5The Institute of Allergy, Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Shamir Medical Center (Former Assaf Harofeh)The Institute of Allergy, Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Shamir Medical Center (Former Assaf Harofeh)The Institute of Allergy, Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Shamir Medical Center (Former Assaf Harofeh)The Institute of Allergy, Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Shamir Medical Center (Former Assaf Harofeh)The Institute of Allergy, Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Shamir Medical Center (Former Assaf Harofeh)The Institute of Allergy, Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Shamir Medical Center (Former Assaf Harofeh)Abstract Background Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has become the standard of care for children with food allergy (FA) and has substantially improved their quality of life. The effect of OIT on the quality of life in adults, however, has been studied to a much lesser degree. Methods Patients with food allergy aged ≥ 18 years who underwent OIT at Shamir Medical Center completed the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) before and at the end of treatment. Adults with FA not undergoing OIT who completed the FAQLQ-AF at 2 time points, served as controls. Results A total of 44 adults, median age 23.4 years, who underwent OIT for milk (n = 19), egg (n = 2), peanut (n = 9), sesame (n = 6), and tree nuts (n = 8), and 11 controls were studied. The median OIT starting dose was 23.8 mg protein. 33 patients (75%) reached full desensitization within a median of 10.3 months. The FAQLQ-AF baseline scores were comparable between the study and control groups for all items except for Food Allergy related Health (FAH) item in which the study group had a significantly better score (p = 0.02). At the second time point, the study group had significantly better scores in all items (Allergen Avoidance and Dietary Restrictions (AADR), p = 0.02; and Emotional Impact (EI), Risk of Allergen Exposure (RAE), FAH and the Total Score, p < 0.01). The change in scores for the study group was significantly better, statistically and clinically, in AADR, p = 0.04; EI, p < 0.01; RAE, p = 0.01, and in the total score, p = 0.01. Conclusions OIT significantly improves quality of life of adults with FA. This finding adds important support for providing OIT in this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-024-00915-6AdultsFood allergyOral immunotherapyQuality of life
spellingShingle Na’ama Epstein-Rigbi
Michael B. Levy
Liat Nachshon
Yael Koren
Michael R. Goldberg
Arnon Elizur
Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy
Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology
Adults
Food allergy
Oral immunotherapy
Quality of life
title Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy
title_full Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy
title_fullStr Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy
title_full_unstemmed Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy
title_short Oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy
title_sort oral immunotherapy improves the quality of life of adults with food allergy
topic Adults
Food allergy
Oral immunotherapy
Quality of life
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-024-00915-6
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AT liatnachshon oralimmunotherapyimprovesthequalityoflifeofadultswithfoodallergy
AT yaelkoren oralimmunotherapyimprovesthequalityoflifeofadultswithfoodallergy
AT michaelrgoldberg oralimmunotherapyimprovesthequalityoflifeofadultswithfoodallergy
AT arnonelizur oralimmunotherapyimprovesthequalityoflifeofadultswithfoodallergy