Therapiemöglichkeiten bei der IgE-vermittelten Nahrungsmittelallergie

Once the diagnosis of food allergy is established by double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges, the only proven therapy is a strict elimination diet. Special food exclusion diets exist that allow patients to avoid food allergens while maintaining a good quality of life. If the allergen provokes anaphylactic reactions, the restriction diet has to be combined with the prescription of an emergency medication (antihistamine, corticosteroid, adrenaline). As symptomatic food allergy is often "lost" over time, food challenges can be repeated at intervals of 1 - 2 years under monitored conditions. Immunotherapy with food extracts should only be used in controlled studies for the treatment of food hypersensitivity. Concerning their associated food allergy, patients with tree pollen illergy may profit from a specific immunotherapy with tree pollen extract. An induction of oral tolerance using increasing amounts of raw food is only useful in selected, highly compliant patients and in instances of not reliably avoidable foods. Antihistamines may partially mask symptoms of oral allergy syndrome and IgE-mediated skin symptoms. In allergic reactions with gastrointestinal disorders, cromoglycate might be used for a short time. Alternative therapies such as rotation diets, electroacupuncture or bioresonance should be disapproved.