Annual review of advances in allergy research

Each year, Sicherer and Leung review the highlights of the scientific advances in anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity reactions to foods, drugs, and insects that were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology throughout the preceding twelve month period. These reviews serve as useful references to keep up to date with advances in this field and provide a 'one-stop' summary of key research published in this journal. Their latest edition relating to research published throughout 2009 is now available.

One of the hot topics in the field of food allergy in 2009 was oral immunotherapy. This review looks at several studies into this treatment that are yet to determine whether oral immunotherapy causes permanent tolerance or just temporary desensitisation. Also reviewed were epidemiologic studies from several westernised countries that indicate the prevalence of peanut allergy among children in these areas is now more than 1%. Some cited evidence to suggest that environmental exposure to peanut is a risk factor in the development of these allergies.

Other studies into food allergy that were included in the review related to the role of regulatory T cells, complement, platelet-activating factor, and effector cells in the development and expression of food allergy.

The review also covers many studies into other aspects of allergy and asthma that are not directly related to food allergy but may have an impact on future management and treatment of food allergy.

Reference: Sicherer & Leung 2010. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Vol. 125(1) pp. 85-97.