Oral Immunotherapy for Food Allergic Patients
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| Organization | Friends of Assaf Harofeh Medical Center |
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| Region | Israel |
| Website | Website |
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| ProjectLeader | Michael Goldberg |
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Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center (AHMC), is a Joint Commission International accredited medical institution, located in Zerifin Israel. This project will support the efforts of the Center for Food Allergy at AHMC to advance its groundbreaking work and research in oral immunotherapy (OIT) for the treatment of food allergy. The OIT program is unique within Israel , and in the last five years has positively impacted on the lives of hundreds of patients and their families.
Challenge
Food allergy is caused by immune reactions to ingestion of specific foods. Severe cases may result in loss of consciousness, anaphylactic shock, or death. Patients and their families must be constantly vigilant against inadvertent exposure to allergenic food. In Israel alone, recent food allergy reactions have led to four deaths and many life-threatening episodes. Food allergy also restricts dietary and lifestyle options for patients, and can be strongly disruptive to their daily function.
Long-Term Impact
Greater than 65% of our 800 patients treated by OIT have achieved full desensitization and an additional 20%, partial desensitization. Benefits include the elimination of life-threatening reactions, and increased dietary options for better nutrition. Further research will facilitate the expansion of OIT programs to include other foods and optimized treatment methods. Immunological parameters will be sought to better monitor progress and predict successful outcomes during OIT.
References
- http://www.assafh.org/sites/en/Friends/Pages/default.aspx
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1pcACt9QZo/collections/60153789/public/
- http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/allergies/food-allergies.aspx
Additional Documentation
https://www.globalgiving.org//pfil/22546/projdoc.docx