Cow's milk (CM) allergy is the most frequent food allergy in the first years of life, with prevalence rates estimated in the range of 2-3%. The elimination of CM is the mainstay of treatment, but accidental exposure to CM proteins is not uncommon, with a considerable risk of severe allergic reactions. Recent evidence suggests that early oral exposure in young children may protect to the development of allergy. On the same way, strategies have been developed for the use of oral exposure as immunotherapy for the treatment of children with established food allergy even if available data on the use of oral immunotherapy in infants with food allergy are very limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of an oral immunotherapy protocol, started in the first year of life, in children with CM allergy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
73
In hospital setting: three increasing doses every 30 minutes of 1ml, 5ml and 10ml of cow milk (CM). Oral food challenge (OFC) stopped at 10ml even if no clinical reactions occurred. At home: every child will take the dose tolerated in hospital, starting the day after the OFC, for 3-4 weeks.Once reached the dose of 40ml of CM without reactions for at least 2 weeks, families increment the dose of 5 ml every week, till the tolerance of 50 ml, then of 10 ml every week, till the tolerance of 100ml and then, of 10 ml every 3 days till the tolerance of 150 ml of milk.
Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo Garofolo-
Trieste, Italy
number of children that completed the home oral immunotherapy protocol, reaching clinical tolerance
Clinical tolerance defined as the achievement of a dose of 150 ml of CM or a corresponding dose of dairy products
Time frame: 6 months
Clinical reactions experienced by children at home
Number and types, communicated by parents at a dedicated telephone number.
Time frame: 6 months
Serum levels of specific IgE
Comparison in serum levels of specific IgE between baseline and the end of the protocol, hypothesizing a decrease of IgE levels after OFC
Time frame: 6 months
Serum levels of specific IgG4
Comparison in serum levels of specific IgG4 between baseline and the end of the protocol, hypothesizing an increase of IgG4 levels after OFC
Time frame: 6 months
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