European allergy registry paper free to download

A summary of the review of existing registries of severe allergic reactions undertaken by the ILSI Food Allergy Task Force was featured in the March 2010 issue of the Allergen Bureau eNews. This work has recently been published in the journal 'Allergy', and the paper can be downloaded free here. To order a free copy, contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The group reviewed and compared the types and kinds of allergy registries that already exist in Europe and looked at the quality of information produced via these registries. Countries that already operate such registries include Sweden, Norway, France, and Italy. There is also a registry for the German-speaking countries Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

The Swedish registry has been in operation since 1993. All physicians have been asked to report life-threatening and fatal allergic reactions caused by food as they occur. Data regarding the severity of the reaction, the estimated amount of food consumed and the age and gender of the sufferer are also collected. In some of the fatal cases, gastric contents have also been analysed. Since its creation over 15 years ago until the end of 2008, the Swedish registry has investigated 215 allergic reactions.

The Norwegian National Reporting System and Register of Severe Allergic Reactions to Food was started in July 2000 as a collaborative venture between the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Food Safety Agency. The register collects information about the patient, the reaction and its circumstances, serological data and analytical data on the implicated food allergens. The data held in the registry indicates the most common allergens causing severe reactions in Norway are peanut, hazelnut and shrimp, with lupin and fenugreek being identified as emerging allergens.

The French Allergy Vigilance Network was created in 2001 and is partially subsidized by the National Food Safety Agency. Private practice allergists and hospital allergists can participate in the network on a voluntary basis, free of charge. The Network currently has 456 members in French-speaking countries, as well as in Belgium, UK, Luxemburg, Algeria, Italy, Morocco and some others.

The Network for Online Registration of Anaphylaxis in German-speaking countries started in 2005 with a questionnaire to doctors in Berlin and Brandenburg on the need for such a register. Based on the survey findings, a register was developed, with data collected through a validated online questionnaire regarding age, gender, symptoms, location where the reaction took place, diagnosis, eliciting factors, cofactors, treatment and preventive measures for patients who experienced severe allergic reactions. Currently, 74 specialised allergy centres throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland are participating in this registry.

In Italy, an area-based regional Registry for anaphylaxis was established in the northeastern regions, with all the 38 Emergency Departments for adults, two Paediatric Emergency Departments and 22 Paediatric Units in the Region currently registering allergy cases that occur. The system is a web-based user-friendly database, collecting a selected set of data that are useful for clinical decisions.

Following their comparative analysis of the different registries that currently exist, the Task Force set out their recommendations for a pan-European registry. Based on their review findings, the group believe the ideal registry would be based on an online electronic system which should consider different items regarding demographic data, symptoms, eliciting factors, co factors and treatment modalities.