New research on peanut allergies

AORN Journal, Feb, 2004

New developments in prevention and treatment may help the 1.5 million Americans who suffer from severe peanut allergies, according to a July 10, 2003, news release from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Peanut allergy is the leading cause of fatal and near-fatal food anaphylaxis in the United States, and each year approximately 50 to 100 people die from accidental ingestion of peanuts. Currently, the only form of treatment is to educate patients to avoid eating foods containing peanuts and self-administer epinephrine in the case of accidental ingestion.

Seven recent studies have advanced researchers' understanding of the cause of peanut allergy and offer possibilities for new treatment models. Findings include the following.

* The potential for severe allergic reaction from exposure to peanuts in the form of peanut butter is vastly reduced compared to reaction from peanut proteins that may be released into the air from packaged peanut products.

* Genetically engineered major allergenic peanut proteins that no Longer bind immunoglobutin E (IgE) and retain T cell proliferation could be used to develop a vaccine that would safely elicit a protective immune response to peanuts.

* Administering activated charcoal in addition to epinephrine soon after accidental peanut ingestion may reduce the severity and progression of anaphylaxis by binding to the major allergens in peanuts and preventing remaining peanut proteins from activating an allergic response.

* More than 50% of children with life-threatening asthma were found to have food allergies, especially to peanuts.

* Roasting peanuts may enhance their allergenic properties. Roasting causes the major peanut allergen Ara h2 to become a stronger digestive enzyme inhibitor and more resistant to digestion.

* Quantification of peanut-IgE in blood can be useful in diagnosing peanut allergy. Patients with a high Level of peanut-IgE are very likely to have a reaction after peanut ingestion.

* Patients with Low peanut-IgE levels have a 50% chance of outgrowing their allergy to peanuts.

Major Advances in Peanut Allergy Research May Bring Hope to 1.5 Million Americans (news release, Milwaukee: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, July 10, 2003) http://www.aaaai.org/media/news_releases/2003/07/071003.stm (accessed 25 Aug 2003).