[AN ADULT CASE OF EGG ALLERGY TREATED WITH RUSH ORAL IMMUNOTHERAPY]

A 26-year-old female patient exhibited symptoms associated with egg allergy, which had been present since early childhood. The patient requested the treatment of egg allergy and was admitted to our hospital for rush oral immunotherapy. The threshold was determined by an oral food challenge test, after positive results on a double-blind food challenge test. The patient ingested dry powder of raw egg-white 5 times per day starting with a tenth of the threshold dose (3.0mg), followed by a 1.2-times increase every time. When the amount of powder reached 1g, it was replaced with 8g of scrambled egg, after then subsequent doses were increased 1.5 times every time. The target of one chicken egg (60g) was reached on the 18^th day. During treatment, minor allergic symptoms of urticarial and dyspnea were observed on two occasions, but they disappeared after oral administration of antihistamines. The result of an exercise challenge test after ingestion of egg was negative, and no allergic symptoms were observed by the ingestion of processed foods that contained egg. The patient currently receives ongoing maintenance treatment, consisting of the ingestion of one chicken egg per day; no allergic symptoms have been observed during a period of 2 year while receiving this treatment. Rush oral immunotherapy is a treatment option to be considered for adults with food allergy who were not able to acquire immune tolerance during childhood.