Effect of oral immunotherapy to peanut on food-specific quality of life

Abstract Background Peanut allergy is an increasingly common problem for which the only available treatment is avoidance. Oral immunotherapy has shown promise for increasing tolerance of peanut in allergic children. Food allergy has an effect on the quality of life of children and adolescents. Objective To measure the effect of oral immunotherapy to peanut on food-specific quality of life in children and adolescents. Methods One hundred patients (5–18 years of age) were enrolled in an open trial of peanut oral immunotherapy. Parents of children 5 to 12 years old, children 8 to 12 years old, and teenagers completed validated, age-specific, food-related quality-of-life surveys before and after peanut oral immunotherapy. Results Ninety patients (76 children 5–12 years old and 14 adolescents 13-18 years old) achieved the maintenance daily dose of 450 mg of peanut protein. A significant improvement in quality of life was found in all survey domains (allergen avoidance, dietary restriction, risk of accidental exposure, emotional impact, food-related anxiety, and social and dietary limitations) with the exception of the emotional impact domain on the adolescents' survey. Quality of life significantly improved ( P < .02) on all 30 questions when parents assessed their children 5 to 12 years old. When children (8–12 years old) and teens assessed themselves, quality of life improved ( P < .05) on 22 of 24 questions and 12 of 18 questions, respectively. Conclusion Peanut oral immunotherapy significantly improves food-specific quality of life.