Commentary on Japanese Pediatric Guideline for Food Allergy 2016 Chapter 9 Oral immunotherapy

Abstract

 The Japanese Pediatric Guideline for Food Allergy 2016 (JPGFA 2016) define oral immunotherapy (OIT) as a treatment for patients (1) who do not expect to acquire tolerance to foods in the near future, (2) for whom the threshold dose that induces allergic symptoms was determined by oral food challenge testing prior to OIT, and (3) who underwent OIT under physician supervision. Considering recent clinical trial results and the current situation in Japan, the JPGFA 2016 committee does not recommend OIT as a standard treatment for food allergies. Patient selection for OIT is clearly described ; OIT should be conducted only under the direction of physician specialists who are familiar with food allergies, and only in settings where emergency treatments for potential adverse reactions are available. The decision to undergo OIT should be carefully considered. Physicians must obtain informed consent from the patient, or his or her guardian, after ethics committee approval.