A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Multisite Study Using Omalizumab-facilitated Rapid Desensitization to Test Continued Discontinued Dosing in Multifood Allergic Individuals.

Background: As there is limited data on the sustainability of desensitization of multifood-oral immunotherapy (multifood-OIT), we conducted a multisite multifood-OIT study to compare the efficacy of successful desensitization with sustained dosing discontinued dosing after multifood-OIT.

Methods: We enrolled 70 participants, aged 5-22 years with multiple food allergies confirmed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFCs). In the open-label phase of the study, all participants received omalizumab (weeks 1-16) and multi-OIT (2-5 allergens; weeks 8-30) and eligible participants (on maintenance dose of each allergen by weeks 28-29) were randomized 1:1:1 to 1 g, 300 mg, or 0 mg arms (blinded, weeks 30-36) and then tested by food challenge at week 36.

Food allergy and omics.

Food allergy (FA) prevalence has been increasing over the last few decades and is now a global health concern. Current diagnostic methods for FA result in a high number of false-positive results, and the standard of care is either allergen avoidance or use of epinephrine on accidental exposure, although currently with no other approved treatments. The increasing prevalence of FA, lack of robust biomarkers, and inadequate treatments warrants further research into the mechanism underlying food allergies.

Allergen Immunotherapy.

Allergies affect a large proportion of the population. Allergies can adversely affect productivity, sleep, and quality of life and can lead to life-threatening reactions. Allergies can spread to affect multiple organ systems.

Treatment with rituximab and brentuximab vedotin in a patient of common variable immune deficiency-associated classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background: Patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) have an increased risk of developing lymphoproliferative diseases, including non-Hodgkins lymphoma (Blood 116:1228-1234, 2010; Blood 119:1650-7, 2012). The incidence and prognosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in this population is not clear, with only a few case reports in the literature. Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, although highly efficacious in treating Hodgkin lymphoma in immune competent patients, is problematic in patients with CVID due to the increased risk of infectious complications (Ther Umsch 69:687-91, 2012; Pediatr Hematol Oncol 24:337-42, 2012).