IgE-mediated food allergy.

PURPOSE

The increasing incidence of IgE-mediated food allergy has led to further study of this atopic disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Food allergy represents a failure to attain oral tolerance marked by a pronounced Th2 versus T-regulatory cell response. The gold standard for the diagnosis of food allergy is a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. Evidence supports breastfeeding to prevent certain atopic diseases but there is no support for delayed food introduction or maternal diet restrictions during pregnancy or lactation. There is no cure for food allergies. The mainstay of therapy is avoidance and management of severe reactions with self-injectable epinephrine. Other promising therapies include oral immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy.

SUMMARY

The mechanism of IgE-mediated food allergy is better understood but further research is needed to prevent and treat food allergies.