Natural history of immediate-type hen's egg allergy in Japanese children

Abstract

Background: Hen's egg (HE) allergy develops during infancy. We investigated tolerance acquisition in Japanese children allergic to HE aging <6 years.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 226 children born in 2005 with a history of immediate-type HE allergy underwent an oral food challenge (OFC). Tolerance was defined as no reaction to an OFC with half of whole heated HE or accidental HE consumption at home. Participants were divided into three groups based on age at tolerance acquisition: group I (<3 years) (n = 66), group II (3-6 years) (n = 98), and group III (prolonged allergic groups) (n = 62).

Results: Tolerance acquisition occurred in 30% (66/226) by 3 years of age, 59% (133/226) by 5 years of age, and 73% (164/226) at 6 years of age. At 3 years, incidences of allergy-related complications (bronchial asthma, p = 0.02; atopic dermatitis, p = 0.04) were higher in the group III than in the group I. Anaphylaxis to any food occurred more frequently in the group III than in the group I (p = 0.03); anaphylaxis to HE was more common in the group III (p = 0.04). Egg white (EW)- and ovomucoid (OM)-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were higher in the group III than in the group I (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The group III experienced HE-related anaphylaxis and complications more frequently and exhibited sustained, high EW- and OM-specific IgE levels.

Keywords: Egg white-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies; Hen's egg; Oral food challenge; Ovomucoid-specific IgE; Tolerance acquisition.