Session Speaker

Treatment with Omalizmab, in Children with Documented Anaphylactic Reactions to Cow's Milk Protein
Montserrat Bosque
Spain


Introduction: Numerous studies have shown the efficacy and safety of the monoclonal anti-IgE antibody – Omalizumab - in treating patients with allergic asthma. The literature shows a small amount of studies or case reports that illustrate that Omalizumab can be a usefull and safe drug to treat other allergic diseases such as food allergies, which are sometimes a life-threatening. To date the only available therapeutic approach is prevention by avoiding allergen’s exposure.

Objective: To evaluate the tolerance of cow’s milk in children with cow’s milk allergy after treatment with Omalizumab.

Material and Methods: An observational study was performed in children older than 5 years old with previous well-documented anaphylactic reactions to cow’s milk protein. At the beginning and end of follow-up the following tests were performed: skin prick test, measurement of specific IgE to cow’s milk proteins. After 28 weeks of treatment with Omalizumab, in addition to the previous tests an oral provocation test was performed in the ambulatory care unit on the following basis: labial contact with a drop of milk; if the patient tolerated it, repeated oral ingestion of increasing volumes of cow milk was performed (2.5 cc) and after at every 30 minute 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 cc.

Results: 10 children were included in the study protocol. Skin prick test became negative in 40 % of the cases, specific IgE remained positive in all children and oral provocation was negative in 5 children.

Conclusion: According to our results, Omalizumab seems to be effective at least to some extent in 50% of the children with past history of anaphylaxis to proteins present in cow’s milk.