Peanut Allergen Threshold Study (PATS): Novel Single-Dose Oral Food Challenge Study to Validate Eliciting Doses in Children with Peanut Allergy

Authors

Jonathan O'B. Hourihane, University College, Cork, IrelandFollow
Katrina J. Allen, University of Melbourne
Wayne G. Shreffler, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical SchoolFollow
Gillian Dunngalvin, University College, Cork, Ireland
Julie A. Nordlee, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Giovanni A. Zurzolo, University of Melbourne
Audrey Dunngalvin, University of Melbourne
Lyle C. Gurrin, University of MelbourneFollow
Joseph L. Baumert, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Steve L. Taylor, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

5-2017

Citation

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (May 2017) 139(5): 1,583–1,590

doi: 10.1016/ j.jaci.2017.01.030

Comments

Copyright © 2017, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Published by Elsevier. Used by permission

Abstract

Background: Eliciting doses (EDs) of allergenic foods can be defined by the distribution of threshold doses for subjects within a specific population. The ED₀₅ is the dose that elicits a reaction in 5% of allergic subjects. The predicted ED₀₅ for peanut is 1.5 mg of peanut protein (6 mg of whole peanut).

Objective: We sought to validate the predicted peanut ED₀₅ (1.5 mg) with a novel single-dose challenge. Methods: Consecutive eligible children with peanut allergy in 3 centers were prospectively invited to participate, irrespective of previous reaction severity. Predetermined criteria for objective reactions were used to identify ED₀₅ single-dose reactors.

Results: Five hundred eighteen children (mean age, 6.8 years) were eligible. No significant demographic or clinical differences were identified between 381 (74%) participants and 137 (26%) nonparticipants or between subjects recruited at each center. Three hundred seventy-eight children (206 male) completed the study. Almost half the group reported ignoring precautionary allergen labeling. Two hundred forty-five (65%) children experienced no reaction to the single dose of peanut. Sixty-seven (18%) children reported a subjective reaction without objective findings. Fifty-eight (15%) children experienced signs of a mild and transient nature that did not meet the predetermined criteria. Only 8 (2.1%; 95% CI, 0.6%–3.4%) subjects met the predetermined criteria for an objective and likely related event. No child experienced more than a mild reaction, 4 of the 8 received oral antihistamines only, and none received epinephrine. Food allergy–related quality of life improved from baseline to 1 month after challenge regardless of outcome (η² = 0.2, P < .0001). Peanut skin prick test responses and peanut- and Ara h 2–specific IgE levels were not associated with objective reactivity to peanut ED₀₅.

Conclusion: A single administration of 1.5 mg of peanut protein elicited objective reactions in fewer than the predicted 5% of patients with peanut allergy. The novel single-dose oral food challenge appears clinically safe and patient acceptable, regardless of the outcome. It identifies the most highly dose-sensitive population with food allergy not otherwise identifiable by using routinely available peanut skin prick test responses or specific IgE levels, but this single-dose approach has not yet been validated for risk assessment of individual patients.