Outcomes of Serum Food-Specific Immunoglobulin G 4 to Guide Elimination Diet in Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

INTRODUCTION: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is associated with atopy; however, recent studies have identified an association with food-specific immunoglobulin G 4 (FS-IgG 4 ) rather than immunoglobulin E antibodies. This study aimed to evaluate the role of serum FS-IgG 4 in guiding an elimination diet and its outcomes. METHODS: Patients with and without EoE were enrolled in a prospective, controlled, single tertiary center trial. Serum FS-IgG 4 titers, esophageal eosinophil counts, and dysphagia symptom questionnaire scores were assessed, and participants with elevated FS-IgG 4 (ImmunoCAP, cutoff of 10 mgA/L) commenced 6-week targeted elimination diet. Repeat serum FS-IgG 4 and endoscopic and histologic examination were performed at 6-week follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with active EoE and 13 controls were recruited. Serum FS-IgG 4 to milk, wheat, soy, eggs, and nuts was significantly higher in EoE ( P = 0.0002, P = 0.002, P = 0.003, P = 0.012, and P < 0.001, respectively). Elevated serum FS-IgG 4 to 1 or more food groups (median 2) was identified in 21/22 (95.4%) patients with EoE; 20/21 underwent 6-week dietary elimination. Median reductions in dysphagia symptom questionnaire score and EoE endoscopic reference score after elimination were 8 ( P = 0.0007) and 1 ( P = 0.002), respectively. Nine (45%) patients had histological remission (<15 eosinophils per high-power field). Fall in median esophageal eosinophil count was not statistically significant (50 vs 23; P = 0.068). Serum FS-IgG 4 did not decline by 6-week follow-up. DISCUSSION: Serum FS-IgG 4 to milk, wheat, soy, egg, and nuts was present at higher levels in EoE, with targeted elimination resulting in 45% histologic remission rate. Serum FS-IgG 4 has potential as a noninvasive biomarker in EoE. When successful, FS-IgG 4 -led elimination diet can negate need for medications and be viewed more favorably by patients because of its smaller endoscopic burden compared with empirical elimination diets.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Review.

Importance: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the esophagus that affects an estimated 34.4/100 000 people in Europe and North America. EoE affects both children and adults, and causes dysphagia, food impaction of the esophagus, and esophageal strictures. Observations: EoE is defined by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, such as vomiting, dysphagia, or feeding difficulties, in a patient with an esophageal biopsy demonstrating at least 15 eosinophils per high-power field in the absence of other conditions associated with esophageal eosinophilia such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or achalasia. Genetic factors and environmental factors, such as exposure to antibiotics early in life, are associated with EoE. Current therapies include proton pump inhibitors; topical steroid preparations, such as fluticasone and budesonide; dietary therapy with amino acid formula or empirical food elimination; and endoscopic dilation. In a systematic review of observational studies that included 1051 patients with EoE, proton pump inhibitor therapy was associated with a histologic response, defined as less than 15 eosinophils per high-power field on endoscopic biopsy, in 41.7% of patients, while placebo was associated with a 13.3% response rate. In a systematic review of 8 randomized trials of 437 patients with EoE, topical corticosteroid treatment was associated with histologic remission in 64.9% of patients compared with 13.3% for placebo. Patients with esophageal narrowing may require dilation. Objective assessment of therapeutic response typically requires endoscopy with biopsy. Conclusions and Relevance: EoE has a prevalence of approximately 34.4/100 000 worldwide. Treatments consist of proton pump inhibitors, topical steroids, elemental diet, and empirical food elimination, with esophageal dilation reserved for patients with symptomatic esophageal narrowing.

Food Elimination in the Management of Refractory Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most commonly reported chronic diseases. Refractory CRS represents a subgroup of patients who continue to be symptomatic even after adequate medical and surgical therapy. These patients started to form a significant portion of patients with CRS. Food elimination as a therapeutic method to control symptoms of different chronic diseases, such as eosinophilic esophagitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis, has been described in the literature with variable success rates. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of food elimination therapy as adjuvant treatment in refractory patients having CRS with positive food sensitization. DESIGN: Prospective open-label study. SETTING: Tertiary academic center. METHODS: Consecutive adult patients with refractory nonobstructive CRS (patients who had persistent sinonasal symptoms despite endoscopic sinus surgery and patent sinuses ostia with adequate medical treatment) with positive food sensitization were included. Subjects were asked to eliminate the sensitized food from their diet. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Lund-Kennedy symptom and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic appearance scores. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were initially enrolled in the study. Six patients were excluded; 4 were lost to follow-up, and 2 did not eliminate the causal food for the required period. The average age of the patients was 36 years old. There were 10 female and 6 male patients. Nasal discharge and facial pressure were the most common presenting symptoms. Shellfish, egg, and meat mix were the most common eliminated foods. There was a significant difference in the patients' Lund-Kennedy symptom and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic appearance scores at 6 and 12 weeks after food elimination therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Food elimination in refractory CRS is an effective adjuvant treatment and should be considered in the treatment algorithm of patients with persistent symptoms after successfully performed sinus surgery.

Technical Review on the Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Report From the AGA Institute and the Joint Task Force on Allergy-Immunology Practice Parameters.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus. Many new studies have been reported recently that describe EoE management. An expert panel was convened by the American Gastroenterological Association Institute and the Joint Task Force on Allergy-Immunology Practice Parameters to provide a technical review to be used as the basis for an updated clinical guideline. This technical review was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Eighteen focused EoE management questions were considered, with 15 answered using the GRADE framework and 3 with a narrative summary. There is moderate certainty in the evidence that topical glucocorticosteroids effectively reduce esophageal eosinophil counts to <15 per high-power field over a short-term treatment period of 4-12 weeks, but very low certainty about the effects of using topical glucocorticosteroids as maintenance therapy. Multiple dietary strategies may be effective in reducing esophageal eosinophil counts to <15 per high-power field over a short-term treatment period, with moderate certainty for elemental diets, low certainty for empiric 2-, 4-, and 6-food elimination diets, and very low certainty that allergy-based testing dietary eliminations have a higher failure rate compared to empiric diet elimination. There is very low certainty for the effect of proton pump inhibitors in patients with esophageal eosinophilia. Although esophageal dilation appears to be relatively safe, there is no evidence that it reduces esophageal eosinophil counts. There is very low certainty in the effects of multiple other medical treatments for EoE: anti-interleukin-5 therapy, anti-interleukin-13 therapy, anti-IgE therapy, montelukast, cromolyn, and anti-TNF therapy.

A Novel Allergen-Specific Immune Signature-Directed Approach to Dietary Elimination in Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary elimination for treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is limited by lack of accuracy in current allergy tests. We aimed to develop an immunologic approach to identify dietary triggers and prospectively test allergen-specific immune signature-guided dietary elimination therapy. METHODS: In the first phase, we developed and assessed 2 methods for determining selected food triggers using samples from 24 adults with EoE: a CD4+ T-cell proliferation assay in peripheral blood and food-specific tissue IgG4 levels in esophageal biopsies. In the second phase, we clinically tested elimination diets created from these methods in a prospective cohort treated for 6 weeks (NCT02722148). Outcomes included peak eosinophil counts (eos/hpf), endoscopic findings (measured by the EoE Endoscopic Reference Score), and symptoms (measured by the EoE Symptom Activity Index). RESULTS: Parameters were optimized with a positive test on either assay, yielding agreements of 60%, 75%, 53%, 58%, and 53% between predicted and known triggers of peanut, egg, soy, wheat, and milk, respectively. In clinical testing, the mean number of foods eliminated based on the assays was 3.4, and 19 of 22 subjects were compliant with treatment. After treatment, median peak eosinophil counts decreased from 75 to 35 (P = 0.007); there were 4 histologic responders (21%). The EoE Endoscopic Reference Score and EoE Symptom Activity Index score also decreased after treatment (4.6 vs 3.0; P = 0.002; and 32.5 vs 25.0; P = 0.06, respectively). DISCUSSION: We successfully developed a new testing approach using CD4 T-cell proliferation and esophageal food-specific IgG4 levels, with promising accuracy rates. In clinical testing, this led to improvement in eosinophil counts, endoscopic severity, and symptoms of dysphagia, but a smaller than expected number of patients achieved histologic remission.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a recently defined condition that has dramatically increased in prevalence in the last several decades. It may occur at any age, but the clinical presentation in young children is often more vague than the classic solid food dysphagia and food impacting that are the major presenting symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and adolescents. Successful therapies exist, including medications and dietary modifications, but disease typically recurs when the intervention is discontinued.

Efficacy of an elimination diet in a patient with eosinophilic gastroenteritis : a pediatric case with multiple food allergies.

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders are chronic inflammatory diseases in which eosinophils highly infiltrate into gastrointestinal tissue, resulting in gastrointestinal dysfunction. Here, we report a case of pediatric eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE). A 7-year-old boy with multiple food allergies (cow milk, hen's egg, fish,shellfish, and chicken) was admitted to our hospital because of continuous abdominal pain and vomiting. His soy allergy had been diagnosed to have oral tolerance based on an oral food challenge at the age of 6 years. He was diagnosed with EGE based on biopsy findings showing eosinophilic infiltration ( 20 eosinophils per high-power field) into the gastrointestinal mucosa. A diet eliminating soy, wheat, beef, pork, rice, and sesame in addition to the food that had already been eliminated and oral corticosteroids improved his symptoms and peripheral eosinophilia. A relapse of both abdominal pain and peripheral eosinophilia after the reintroduction of soy or pork identified them as foods causative of EGE. This report highlights the utility of elimination diets in improving EGE symptoms and the subsequent reintroduction of offending foods in identifying causative foods. Furthermore,EGE onset should be considered when introducing potentially allergic food in the management of food allergy. J. Med. Invest. 66 : 201-204, February, 2019.

Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten or wheat sensitivity and health in later life: A review.

Celiac disease (CD) and non-gluten (or wheat) sensitivity (NCGS) are two gluten-related disorders, the treatment of which relies on dietary withdrawal of gluten (absolute and lifelong in the case of CD patients). However, these conditions differ in their pathophysiology and impact on health. CD is an autoimmune disorder of the intestine, and is associated with a wide range of disorders, pre- and post-diagnosis. Its autoimmune and inflammatory nature raises concerns about its potential effects on mortality and morbidity. Here we review the data on the health impact CD or NCGS may have prospectively, and report on the role of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in this respect. Since study designs have been heterogeneous, we focus on studies of treated patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of CD, to eliminate possible bias from misdiagnosis. The review revealed a moderately increased mortality risk among CD patients, mainly attributed to cardiovascular disease and malignancy. Other long-term morbidities of CD include autoimmune disorders, nutritional deficiencies, impaired bone health, reproductive abnormalities, and neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders, which are substantially improved, and some of them even completely treated, after strict adherence to a GFD. For NCGS, the literature is too limited and its long-term complications are unknown.

Barriers to self-management behaviors in college students with food allergies.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined barriers to engagement in self-management behaviors among food-allergic college students (1) within the frameworks of the health belief model (HBM) and common sense self-regulation model (CS-SRM) and (2) in the context of overall risky behaviors. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate college students who reported having a physician-diagnosed food allergy (N = 141). Research was conducted from February 2015 through May 2016. METHODS: Participants were recruited from college campuses through email and social media. The frequency of adherence to self-management behaviors was measured along with HBM, CS-SRM, and risk-taking behaviors through a self-report survey. RESULTS: Among all participants, HBM and CS-SRM constructs and Tobacco Use explained 30.6% of the variance in adherence. CS-SRM constructs and Tobacco Use explained 44.8% of the variance for participants with self-injectable epinephrine (SIE). CONCLUSIONS: Food-allergic college students demonstrate inconsistent adherence, and interventions designed to improve adherence should take both SIE prescription status and contextual factors into consideration.

Food allergy.

Food allergies manifest in a variety of clinical conditions within the gastrointestinal tract, skin and lungs, with the most dramatic and sometimes fatal manifestation being anaphylactic shock. Major progress has been made in basic, translational and clinical research, leading to a better understanding of the underlying immunological mechanisms that lead to the breakdown of clinical and immunological tolerance against food antigens, which can result in either immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions or non-IgE-mediated reactions. Lifestyle factors, dietary habits and maternal-neonatal interactions play a pivotal part in triggering the onset of food allergies, including qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiota. These factors seem to have the greatest influence early in life, an observation that has led to the generation of hypotheses to explain the food allergy epidemic, including the dual-allergen exposure hypothesis. These hypotheses have fuelled research in preventive strategies that seek to establish desensitization to allergens and/or tolerance to allergens in affected individuals. Allergen-nonspecific therapeutic strategies have also been investigated in a number of clinical trials, which will eventually improve the treatment options for patients with food allergy.

National allergy programme had little impact on parent-reported food allergies in children aged 6-7 years.

AIM: The ten-year Finnish national allergy programme was launched in 2008 to lessen the disease and psychological burden of allergy. This study assessed the prevalence of parent-reported food allergies requiring avoidance diets at primary school in children aged six and seven years. METHODS: The cohort comprised 1937 children (51% boys) who started primary school in Tampere, Finland, in August 2016. School health nurses charted parent-reported, doctor-diagnosed food allergies requiring avoidance diets as part of the routine health examination. RESULTS: We found that 127 (6.6%) children had parent-reported, doctor-diagnosed allergies to at least one food and 37 (1.9%) were allergic to basic foods, namely cows' milk, wheat and one other grain. All required an avoidance diet. The figure did not differ significantly from the 2.7% and 2.5% found by studies of this age group in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Allergies to fresh fruit and vegetables decreased from 5.8% in 2009 to 3.6% in 2016. CONCLUSION: We studied the national allergy programme that started in 2008 and found that there was a nonsignificant overall decrease in the number of children aged six to seven years on avoidance diets for allergies between 2009 and 2016. The only allergies that showed significant decreases were fresh fruit and vegetables.

Persistent symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease in remission: An exploratory study on the role of diet.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) often report food hypersensitivities with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms despite being in clinical remission. We aimed to identify the most frequent symptoms and dietary triggers in such patients, and also explored whether a strict elimination diet may reduce their GI symptoms. METHODS: We assessed GI symptoms and dietary triggers in 16 patients with CD in clinical remission. Of these, 12 patients subsequently participated in a dietary intervention trial: two weeks on a habitual diet including wheat and dairy products followed by two weeks of a strict elimination diet. The severity of seven symptoms (overall symptoms, abdominal pain, bloating, abnormal feces, wind, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain) was measured by using visual analog scales throughout the four weeks intervention period. MAIN RESULTS: The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, wind, bloating, odorous wind/feces, and diarrhea. Dairy and wheat products were reported as the most frequent dietary symptom triggers. All symptoms improved (p < .05) during the elimination diet period, especially in patients with small intestinal affection. CONCLUSION: Our exploratory study suggests that dietary interventions such as an elimination diet may reduce GI symptoms in patients with CD in remission.

Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity.

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by gluten that affects genetically predisposed individuals, typically causing intestinal symptoms and malabsorption. Diagnosis requires stepwise evaluation with anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA and histologic analysis of the small bowel. Strict adherence to a gluten-free diet is the primary treatment. Patients with symptoms thought to be related to gluten but without evidence of celiac disease are difficult to diagnose and treat. Consider first advising general nutritional improvements. If symptoms persist, involve a trained dietitian for restrictive diets and consider evaluation for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or other treatments for irritable bowel syndrome.

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies in children.

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergic disorders (non-IgE-GI-FA) including food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), food protein-induced enteropathy (FPE), and food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) are relatively uncommon in infants and young children, but are likely under-diagnosed. Non-IgE-GI-FA have a favorable prognosis, with majority resolving by age 3-5 years. Diagnosis relies on the recognition of symptoms pattern in FPIAP and FPIES and biopsy in FPE. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of the pathomechanism, which will lead eventually to the development of diagnostic tests and treatments. Limited evidence supports the role of food allergens in subsets of constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colic. The immunologic pathomechanism is not fully understood and empiric prolonged avoidance of food allergens should be limited to minimize nutrient deficiency and feeding disorders/food aversions in infants.

[Eosinophilic esophagitis]. / L'œsophagite à éosinophiles.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a major cause of dysphagia and esophageal food impaction in young adults, although the diagnostic can be made in older patients. The diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis is suspected on endoscopic abnormalities of esophageal mucosa and confirmed by esophageal biopsy samples. Approximately 50% of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis do respond to proton pump inhibitors therapy. The first line therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis is proton pump inhibitor therapy. Ingested topical steroids represent a second-line therapy. The practical modalities of this treatment should be clearly explained to patients. A diet that eliminates most alimentary allergens provide a 75% clinical and histological remission rate. The progressive reintroduction protocol allows to identify the allergen(s) involved in the disease. Endoscopic dilatations should be proposed in patients with significant esophageal stricture.

Diet adherence and gluten exposure in coeliac disease and self-reported non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adherence to gluten-free diet in self reported non-coeliac gluten sensitive subjects is scarcely researched. Objectives of the study were to compare dietary adherence in coeliac disease (CD) subjects and in non-coeliac gluten sensitive (NCGS) subjects, and to estimate gluten exposure based on weighed food records and analysis of gluten content in selected food items. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Twenty-three subjects with biopsy verified CD on a gluten-free diet and 34 HLA-DQ2+ NCGS subjects on a self-instituted gluten-free diet were enrolled. The latter group was under investigation of CD. Dietary adherence was assessed by frequency questionnaire and structured forms supplied by weighed food records. For the analyses of food samples, the sandwich R5-ELISA, Ridascreen® Gliadin competitive method was used. RESULTS: There was no difference in dietary adherence between CD and NCGS subjects (83% vs 68%, p = 0.21). NCGS subjects were mainly self-educated in gluten-free diet compared to CD subjects (91% and 39%, respectively, p < 0.001). In non-adherent subjects, there was no difference in gluten exposure between CD and NCGS (10 vs 138 mg/day, p = 0.83). There was no difference in BMR-factor between CD and NCGS subjects, or between adherent and non-adherent subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Both CD and NCGS subjects were largely adherent, and adherence did not differ between the groups. Gluten exposure varied greatly, and some CD and NCGS subjects reached gluten intake above 500 mg/day, which might have considerable health effects on the individual, especially in case of coeliac disease.

Uso de fórmula nutricional a base de aminoácidos libres en pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa mediada o no mediada por ige y que han fracasado al uso de formulas extensamente hidrolizadas / Use of nutritional formula based on free amino acids in patients with severe food allergy mediated or not mediated by IgE and who have failed to use extensively hydrolysed formulas

INTRODUCCION: Antecedentes: El presente informe expone la evaluación de la fórmula nutricional a base a aminoácidos libres respecto a su uso en pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa mediada o no mediada por IgE que han fracasado a la formula con proteína extensamente hidrolizada. Aspectos generales: La alergia alimentaria es una respuesta inmune que puede ser específica (mediada por IgE), mediada por mecanismos celulares (no mediada por IgE) o mixta (mediada por IgE y mecanismos celulares) y que afecta a niños y adultos, siendo más común en la etapa de lactantes. Los síntomas de la alergia alimentaria pueden variar de leves a severos (4), según el nivel de hipersensibilidad de cada individuo. Entre los principales causantes de alergia alimentaria se encuentran el consumo de maní, huevo, pescado, mariscos, soya, trigo y leche de vaca, siendo el último la causa más común en niños. Existen varias posibilidades de tratamiento para la alergia alimentaria severa. Entre ellas, se encuentran la dieta de eliminación, caracterizada por la eliminación de los alérgenos de la dieta de la madre, que es la intervención clave para el manejo de la alergia alimentaria, ya que generalmente resulta en la resolución de los signos y síntomas. En la mayoría de los casos, el uso de dietas de eliminación incluye la ingesta de fórmulas hipoalergénicas como tratamiento de la alergia alimentaria en infantes alimentados con leche materna y/o fórmulas infantiles que hayan desarrollado una alergia a las mismas. Tecnología Sanitaria de Interés: Las fórmulas nutricionales a base de aminoácidos libres (FAA), conocidas también como fórmulas elementales, son fórmulas hipoalergénicas diseñadas para el consumo en infantes y niños con síntomas relacionados a alergia alimentaria o con alto riesgo de padecerlas (8). Para ser considerada como una fórmula hipoalergénica y poder ingresar al mercado, las FAA deben ser toleradas por el 90% de los pacientes con alergia a la proteína de leche de vaca (APLV). Las FAA son producidas sintéticamente en el laboratorio. Las proteínas completas (cadenas grandes de aminoácidos) se desintegran en sus elementos más esenciales y pequeños (aminoácidos). Así, las proteínas de cadena larga que actúan como antígenos y ocasionan las reacciones de hipersensibilidad, son degradadas en aminoácidos, que son compuestos con menor antigenicidad. Por ello, las FAA rara vez provocan reacciones alérgicas al ser ingeridas, además de ser digeridas rápidamente y disminuyen el volumen fecal. Las FAA son toleradas por la mayoría de los pacientes con APLV o alergia alimentaria múltiple, y pueden ser utilizadas como sustitutos de la leche materna u otras fórmulas infantiles. Las desventajas de las FAA incluyen un costo elevado y un sabor desagradable al ser ingeridas. METODOLOGÍA: Estrategia de Búsqueda: Se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura científica respecto al uso de fórmulas nutricionales en base a aminoácidos libres (FAA) para el tratamiento de alergia alimentaria severa. Se dio preferencia a guías de práctica clínica, revisiones sistemáticas con o sin meta-análisis y ensayos clínicos aleatorizados. Asimismo, se consideró extraer información con una estrategia de "bola de nieve" mediante la revisión de listas de referencias de las guías de práctica clínica, revisiones sistemáticas, estudios primarios y revisiones narrativas seleccionadas. RESULTADOS: Tras la búsqueda realizada, se encontró evidencia científica acerca del uso de las fórmulas nutricionales en base a aminoácidos libres (FAA) para pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa. Luego de revisar un total de 705 referencias resultados de la búsqueda bibliográfica, logramos filtrar 34 estudios relevantes para nuestra pregunta PICO de interés. Luego, 12 referencias fueron finalmente seleccionadas para ser analizadas. Sinopsis de la Evidencia: Se sintetiza toda la evidencia considerada para el presente dictamen que sustenta el uso de fórmulas nutricionales en base a aminoácidos libres (FAA) en pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa. Guías de práctica clínica, Revisiones sistemáticas, Ensayos clínicos, Ensayos Clínicos no publicados. CONCLUSIONES: En la presente evaluación de tecnología sanitaria se presenta la evidencia recabada sobre el beneficio de las fórmulas nutricionales a base de aminoácidos libres (FAA) en pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa que han fracasado al tratamiento con fórmulas nutricionales a base de proteína extensamente hidrolizada (FEH). A pesar que la evidencia es muy escasa, los expertos en pediatría han observado en su experiencia clínica, que la ingesta de las FAA podría contrarrestar el impacto a largo plazo en cuanto a problemas cognitivos y psicomotores en los infantes con alergia alimentaria severa sin manejo adecuado. Debido a ello, los expertos tienen la opinión que las FAA constituirían una alternativa terapéutica en los pacientes cuyos síntomas clínicos de alergia alimentaria severa persistan a pesar del uso de las FEH. El Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación ­ IETSI, aprueba el uso de la fórmula nutricional a base de aminoácidos en pacientes con diagnóstico de alergia alimentaria severa mediada o no mediada por IgE cuya sintomatología severa persiste a pesar del uso de FEH según Anexo 01. El presente Dictamen Preliminar tiene una vigencia de dos años a partir de la fecha de publicación.

Uso de fórmula nutricional extensaente hidrolizada en pacientes con diagnóstico de alergia alimentaria severa mediada o no mediada por IgE / Use of widely hydrolyzed nutritional formula in patients diagnosed with severe food allergy mediated or not mediated by IgE

INTRODUCCIÓN: Antecedentes: El presente informe expone la evaluación del producto farmacéutico Fórmula Nutricional Extensamente Hidrolizada (FEH) respecto a su uso en pacientes con Sindrome de alergia alimentaria severa. Aspectos Generales: La alergia alimentaria es un problema de salud que afecta a niños y adultos, siendo más común en la etapa de lactancia y primera infancia. Para que una condición sea considerada alergia alimentaria debe cumplir con los siguientes criterios: a) una respuesta inmune adversa que se produce de forma reproducible debido a la exposición a un determinado alimento y b) se diferencia de otra respuesta adversa hacia los alimentos, como la intolerancia alimentaria, reacciones farmacológicas, o reacciones mediadas por toxinas. Tecnología Sanitaria de Interés: Fórmula Nutricional Extensamente Hidrolizada: La fórmulas en base a proteínas extensamente hidrolizadas (FEH) son fórmulas hipoalergénicas diseñadas para el consumo en infantes con síntomas de alergia a proteínas alimentarias o con alto riesgo de alergia alimentaria. Estas fórmulas pueden constituir el 100% de la ingesta diaria de nutrientes en niños menores de 6 meses, y el 50% en niños mayores de 6 meses con esta patologia. METODOLOGIA: Estratégia de Búsqueda: Se realizó una búsqueda de literatura científica en relación al uso de fórmulas en base a proteínas extensamente hidrolizadas (FEH) para el tratamiento de alergia alimentaria severa. Se dio preferencia a guías de práctica clínica, revisiones sistemáticas con o sin meta-análisis y ensayos clínicos aleatorizados. RESULTADOS: Tras la búsqueda realizada, se encontró evidencia científica acerca del uso de FEH para pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa. Luego de revisar un total de 2508 referencias como resultado de la búsqueda bibliográfica, logramos filtrar 57 estudios relevantes. Sinopsis de la Evidencias: Se detalla la evidencia científica que sustenta el uso de fórmulas en base a proteínas extensamente hidrolizadas (FEH) en pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa en las Guías de Práctica Clínica, Revisiones Sistemáticas, Ensayos Clínicos no publicados, Revisiones Narrativas. Conclusiones: En la presente evaluación de tecnología sanitaria se presenta la evidencia recabada sobre el beneficio de las FEH en pacientes con alergia alimentaria severa. Se ha identificado evidencia proveniente de cinco guías de práctica clinica (GPC) de baja calidad metodológica en las que se recomendó en base a consensos y opinión de expertos, el uso de FEH frente a otras fórmulas infantiles en la población de pacientes de nuestra pregunta PICO de interés. Las GPC recomiendan el uso de FEH en infantes alimentados con fórmulas infantiles con APLV, como parte de la dieta libre de proteína de leche de vaca. Estas recomendaciones se realizaron en consenso en base a opiniones de expertos y criterio clínico, más no se halló sustento alguno en estudios primarios referenciados. El Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación-IETSI, aprueba el uso de la fórmula nutricional extensamente hidrolizada en pacientes con diagnóstico de alergia alimentaria sevra mediada o no mediada por IgE. El presente Dictamen Preliminar tiene una vigencia de dos años a partir de la fecha de publciación.

From coeliac disease to noncoeliac gluten sensitivity; should everyone be gluten free?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Gluten-free diets (GFDs) have seen a disproportional rise in use and popularity relative to the prevalence of established gluten-related disorders such as coeliac disease or immunoglobulin E wheat allergy. This entity has been termed noncoeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). This review aims to provide a current perspective on the emerging evidence for and against NCGS, along with the associated need for a GFD. RECENT FINDINGS: NCGS and the benefits of a GFD are reported amongst patients with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and nonintestinal disorders such as neuropsychiatric diseases and fibromyalgia. However, no reliable biomarkers currently exist to diagnose NCGS and hence confirmatory testing can only be performed using double-blind placebo-controlled gluten-based challenges. Unfortunately, such tests are not available in routine clinical practice. Furthermore, recent novel studies have highlighted the role of other gluten-based components in contributing to the symptoms of self-reported NCGS. These include fermentable oligo, di, mono-saccharides and polyols, amylase trypsin inhibitors, and wheat germ agglutinins. Therefore, NCGS is now seen as a spectrum encompassing several biological responses and terms such as 'noncoeliac wheat sensitivity' have been suggested as a wider label to define the condition. SUMMARY: Despite the rising use of a GFD further studies are required to clearly establish the extent and exclusivity of gluten in NCGS.