Diagnosing Peanut Allergy with Fewer Oral Food Challenges

Publication date: Available online 21 December 2018

Source: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Author(s): Jennifer J. Koplin, Kirsten P. Perrett, Hugh A. Sampson

Diagnosis of peanut allergy presents a significant clinical challenge. Accurate diagnosis is critical for patient management and prevention of allergic reactions, whereas overdiagnosis or failure to diagnose tolerance in a previously allergic patient can lead to unnecessary dietary restrictions and impaired quality of life. Oral food challenges, the criterion standard for diagnosis, pose a risk of potentially severe allergic reactions, and are time- and resource- intensive. In this article, we review other currently available tests for peanut allergy and present the strengths and weaknesses of each to assist the clinician in determining which test might be appropriate for their patients, as well as highlighting emerging tests currently in development. Traditional tests for peanut-specific IgE (skin prick testing and specific IgE) remain useful as first-line tests—a negative test result is useful for excluding peanut allergy and a high positive result has a high specificity for peanut allergy. For those with an intermediate positive test result, Ara h 2 testing might be useful as a second step. Basophil activation tests and peanut protein epitope-specific IgE analyses appear promising in recent studies; however, further research is required into standardization, validation, and cost-effectiveness. Given the limitations of existing tests for peanut allergy, there remains a clear need for improvement. Finding a safe and affordable method for peanut allergy diagnosis that is both sensitive and specific remains an active area of research.

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