Analysis of Oral Food Challenge Outcomes in IgE-Mediated Food Allergies to Almond in a Large Cohort.

Background: Although almond specific IgE-mediated food allergies have traditionally been equated with other tree nut allergies, outcomes of oral food challenges to almond and the utility of clinical testing to predict IgE-mediated almond hypersensitivity are not well known.

Objective: To describe almond oral challenge outcomes and assess the predictive value of clinical testing.

Methods: A total of 603 almond challenges performed for 590 patients, aged 1 to 66 years, were analyzed from Massachusetts General Hospital allergy practices.

Longitudinal Perspective on Managing Refractory Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Background: One half to one third of the patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) do not achieve histological remission on initial treatment. We wondered whether these treatment failure patients are a distinct clinical subset.

Objective: To analyze EoE treatment outcomes in a predominantly pediatric population.

Increased red blood cell transfusions are associated with worsening outcomes in pediatric heart transplant patients.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are associated with increased morbidity. Children receiving heart transplants constitute a unique group of patients due to their risk factors. Although previous studies in nontransplant patients have focused primarily on the effects of postoperative blood transfusions, a significant exposure to blood occurs during the intraoperative period, and a larger percentage of heart transplant patients require intraoperative blood transfusions when compared with general cardiac surgery patients.