Impact of Anti-IgE Therapy on Food Allergies
Author Information
Author(s): Foster Barbara, Foroughi Shabnam, Yin Yuzhi, Prussin Calman
Primary Institution: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Hypothesis
Does anti-IgE therapy attenuate allergen specific Th2 cell responses in eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders?
Conclusion
The study found that anti-IgE therapy did not significantly inhibit allergen specific T cell responses.
Supporting Evidence
- Eight of the 9 subjects had measurable food allergen specific responses.
- The median proliferation index was 112-fold.
- Food allergen specific responses were Th2 skewed relative to tetanus specific responses.
- Anti-IgE treatment did not diminish any of the four measured indices of allergen specific T cell response.
Takeaway
The study looked at whether a treatment for allergies could help reduce the immune response to certain foods, but it didn't work as expected.
Methodology
A 16-week clinical trial of omalizumab was conducted with nine subjects, measuring food allergen specific T cell responses using flow cytometry.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and the nature of the study design.
Limitations
The study's small sample size and the mixed APC population may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Nine subjects with eosinophilic gastroenteritis and food sensitization.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.62
Statistical Significance
p = 0.62
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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