By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Could 11, 2023 (HealthDay Information) — A “peanut patch” worn on the pores and skin might assist defend toddlers who’ve doubtlessly life-threatening peanut allergy symptoms, a brand new scientific trial reveals.
The patch is a type of immunotherapy, which suggests it exposes peanut-allergic youngsters to tiny bits of peanut protein over time — with the aim of coaching the immune system to raised tolerate it.
Within the trial, researchers discovered that of toddlers who wore the peanut patch each day for a yr, two-thirds confirmed a major discount of their sensitivity to peanut protein: They had been capable of eat the equal of 1 to 4 peanuts with out struggling an allergic response.
Whereas that may sound like peanuts, specialists mentioned that stage of tolerance is vital.
The aim of immunotherapy is to forestall a extreme response ought to a toddler unintentionally ingest a small quantity of peanut, mentioned Dr. Alkis Togias, of the U.S. Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses.
“This can be a optimistic examine,” mentioned Togias, who wrote an editorial revealed with the findings on Could 10 within the New England Journal of Medication.
The patch examined within the trial, known as Viaskin, is being developed by French biotech firm DVB Applied sciences, which funded the analysis. It’s not but accepted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration.
If it does win approval, Togias mentioned, “I feel that might solely be factor.”
An estimated 2% of U.S. youngsters are allergic to peanuts, and for many the allergy continues into maturity. That makes it the commonest meals allergy amongst youngsters, and the third-most widespread amongst adults, in line with the nonprofit Meals Allergy Analysis and Schooling (FARE).
Individuals with peanut allergy can endure reactions, typically extreme, from ingesting even a small quantity of the meals — the portions which might be generally lurking in processed or ready meals. So that they (or their mother and father) need to studiously learn meals labels and take different precautions to keep away from peanut publicity.
However that is not simple, Togias mentioned, and accidents occur.
So far as therapy, there’s an oral type of immunotherapy accepted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration for peanut allergy, known as Palforzia. It is a peanut flour product that may be combined into meals, like applesauce. However it’s solely accepted for youngsters ages 4 and older.
“There are at present no FDA-approved therapy choices for toddlers below 4 years previous,” mentioned Dr. Matthew Greenhawt, the lead researcher on the brand new trial.
Oral immunotherapy is below examine for toddlers with peanut allergy. However Greenhawt mentioned it is at all times good to have a number of choices on the desk.
“What works for one household might not work for one more,” he mentioned.
Plus, the patch method might have fewer negative effects, in line with Greenhawt, a professor of pediatrics at Youngsters’s Hospital Colorado/College of Colorado Faculty of Medication.
The patch, he mentioned, “takes benefit” of the truth that the pores and skin is the physique’s largest immune system organ. Which means a smaller dose of peanut protein can be utilized, serving to to skirt the systemic negative effects typically brought on by oral immunotherapy — equivalent to upset abdomen, throat irritation and shortness of breath.
These kinds of issues not often come up with the patch, mentioned Greenhawt, who additionally serves as a medical advisor to DBV Applied sciences.
The trial concerned 362 toddlers, ages 1 to three, who had been randomly assigned to put on both the peanut patch or a placebo (inactive) patch each day for a yr. Total, 67% of youngsters on the actual therapy met the trial’s finish aim: Their immune tolerance was constructed as much as the purpose that they may ingest the equal of 1 to 4 peanuts with out an allergic response.
That in contrast with 33% of youngsters within the placebo group.
Pores and skin rash was the commonest aspect impact with the peanut patch, whereas slightly below 2% of toddlers developed systemic signs that had been judged “gentle to average.”
How would that stack up towards peanut powder?
It is laborious to guage, Togias mentioned, as a result of no trial has in contrast the approaches face to face.
However he pointed to a trial revealed final yr that examined oral immunotherapy for 1- to 3-year-olds with peanut allergy. The findings, Togias mentioned, counsel that the oral method might have stronger results in desensitizing the immune system.
Alternatively, he added, the pores and skin patch could also be safer.
One bigger-picture query round immunotherapy for peanut allergy, Togias mentioned, is whether or not there’s a level at which it may be stopped. Palforzia is taken each day indefinitely, to keep up the immune system’s tolerance for peanut.
Greenhawt mentioned the peanut patch can also be designed for day by day use, and trials up to now (together with considered one of older youngsters) have adopted sufferers for as much as three years of use.
Jennifer Bufford, vp of scientific operations at FARE, agreed that having a number of kinds of immunotherapy could be good for households.
Bufford additionally famous that many individuals with peanut allergy are allergic to different meals, too. “It will likely be fascinating to see if epicutaneous [via the skin] desensitization could be achieved for different widespread meals allergens,” she mentioned.
Whereas there’s optimistic information on the therapy entrance, Togias harassed one other level: Peanut allergy symptoms can be prevented, by introducing peanut merchandise into infants’ diets as soon as they begin on strong meals.
Extra data
FARE has extra on peanut allergy.
SOURCES: Matthew Greenhawt, MD, MBA, MSc, professor, pediatrics, part of allergy and immunology, Youngsters’s Hospital Colorado, College of Colorado Faculty of Medication, Aurora; Alkis Togias, MD, department chief, allergy, bronchial asthma and airway biology department, U.S. Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses, Bethesda, Md.; Jennifer Bufford, MS, vp, scientific operations, Meals Allergy Analysis and Schooling, McLean, Va.; New England Journal of Medication, Could 11, 2023
