Novel approaches in treating food allergy using allergens

Food allergy may be life-threatening and its management continues to consist of avoiding relevant allergens and, in the case of accidental ingestion, initiation of appropriate emergency therapy. The purpose of this review is to highlight the most promising novel approaches for treating food allergy using allergens. The use of specific immunotherapy for food allergy treatment is described. Clinical trials of immunotherapy have been published in the past. However, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed, including the evaluation of immune mechanisms. Immunotherapy is mainly indicated for persistent food allergy after the usual age of recovery. Reactive dose and symptoms of food allergy are less defined to indicate immunotherapy. Several procedures have been described: subcutaneous with constant adverse effects; oral tolerance induction with efficacy in a third of the cases, and sublingual which seems promising. The significance of the immunotherapy effect, persistent or transitory, or increasing the tolerated dose need to be defined.