Title: Current options in the management of tree nut allergy, focusing
on, but not limited to immunotherapy: A systematic review.
Abstract
This systematic review evaluates the potential therapeutic options for
desensitization of patients with IgE-mediated tree nut allergy,
focusing, but not limited to, on immunotherapy. We searched three
bibliographic databases for studies published until July 2022 for active
treatments of IgE-mediated allergy to tree nuts (walnut, hazelnut,
pistachio, cashew, and almond) with allergen-specific immunotherapy
(AIT) using oral (OIT), sublingual (SLIT), epicutaneous (EPIT) or
subcutaneous (SCIT) delivery, or with other disease-modifying
treatments. We included 26 studies, but the heterogeneity of the studies
prevented pooling and meta-analysis. Immunotherapy with hazel pollen
extracts might benefit patients with a secondary nut allergy due to
cross-reactivity with PR-10 or profilin panallergens but is unlikely to
be beneficial in patients with a severe nut allergy caused by seed
storage proteins. Sublingual immunotherapy has a moderate efficacy but a
favorable safety profile. Oral immunotherapy (OIT), single, or
multi-nut, with or without omalizumab, is the most studied approach. In
general, tree nut OIT is effective in conferring protection from
accidental exposures, with safety similar to that demonstrated by peanut
OIT. The observed cross-desensitization between tree nuts straightly
affects the management options for multi-nut allergic patients.