Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
Efficacy of starting very-low-dose wheat intake in children with severe allergy: a retrospective study
Kosei Yamashita1, Takanori Imai2, Midori Takahashi2
1Department of Pediatrics, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; meko11115@med.showa-u.ac.jp.
Background:
In order to prevent total elimination of wheat from their diet, we introduced a very-low-dose (VLD) oral food challenge (OFC) in patients with severe wheat allergy in 2019.
Objective:
This study investigated the efficacy of starting VLD wheat intake for achieving full-dose OFC.
Material And Methods:
Patients with a history of overt allergic reactions to low-dose (LD; 80-mg wheat protein) wheat or lesser within 6 months and those with complete wheat elimination were included in the study. We retrospectively compared the proportion of passing a full-dose OFC (2650-mg wheat protein) between patients who underwent an LD OFC prior to 2019 (LD group) and those who underwent a VLD OFC (26.5-mg wheat protein) after 2019 (VLD group). The period for passing the full-dose OFC was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses.
Results:
We enrolled 200 and 58 patients in LD group and VLD group, respectively. The median age at OFC initiation was 2.1 (1.6-4.2) and 1.9 (1.4-3.6) years in LD group and VLD group, respectively. Wheat- and ω-5 gliadin-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were 25.2 (7.7-59.8) kUA/L and 2.5 (0.8-12.6) kUA/L, respectively, in the LD group and 21.9 (7.4-94.9) kUA/L and 3.3 (1.2-9.4) kUA/L, respectively, in the VLD group. Over 4 years, the LD group and VLD group passed the full-dose OFC at proportions of 50% and 75%, respectively, with a significant difference (Log-rank test, P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Starting VLD wheat intake may contribute to achieving a full-dose OFC in patients with severe wheat allergies.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...