A Retrospective Study On High Risk Factors For The Development of Peanut Allergy

Abstract

The Learning Early about Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial demonstrated that early introduction of peanut products in high risk infants decreases the risk of peanut allergy by 5 years of age. High risk patients were defined as infants with severe eczema, and or egg allergy. In our study, we aimed to identify other high risk factors associated with the development of peanut allergy and thereby additional patient populations who may benefit from early introduction of peanut products. A retrospective chart review was performed on 103 patients ages 0-3 years old with either positive (≥3mm) skin test to peanuts or serum peanut immunoglobulin E (IgE) level greater than or equal to 1.0 kU/L. Clinical data from this subset of patients was analyzed for additional risk factors (i.e. other food allergies, family history of food allergy, parental asthma, etc.) that could lead to the development of peanut allergy using logistic regression analysis. Parental asthma was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of peanut allergy in the child (p=0.0359, OR 2.743). Other concurrent food allergy to soy was also associated with a propensity for peanut allergy (p-value 0.0150, OR 6.344). Patients with food allergy to soy or parental asthma should be further investigated as potential identifiers of patients at high risk of developing a peanut allergy.