Are basophil activation and sulphidoleukotriene determination useful tests for monitoring patients with peach allergy receiving sublingual immunotherapy with a Pru p 3-enriched peach extract?

Introduction: Treatment of food allergy essentially consists of food avoidance, but immunotherapy with food is emerging as a new therapeutic option. Objective: To evaluate clinical improvement and immunological changes in patients with peach allergy following sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with a Pru p 3 quantified peach extract. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with peach SLIT was conducted. We assessed clinical efficacy after 6 months of treatment by means of double-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges with peach and also evaluated immunological changes (basophil activation test [BAT] and determination of sulphidoleukotriene production) following stimulation with peach peel and pulp, rPru p 3, rMal d 1, and rMal d 4 stimulation. We also measured specific IgE and IgG 4 to Pru p 3. Results: After 6 months of SLIT (T6), the active group showed a 3-fold improvement in tolerance to Pru p 3 and a significant increase in IgE to rPru p 3 and in sLT production following stimulation with peach peel and rPru p 3. There was also a significant increase in BAT results after stimulation with rPru p 3 at 1 month of SLIT (T1). Statistically significant between-group differences were only observed for BAT with peach peel and pulp at T1 and T6 and for BAT with rPru p 3 at T6. No changes were observed in BAT with rMal d 1 or rMal d 4 or in IgG4 levels to nPru p 3. Conclusions: SLIT with a Pru p 3 quantified peach extract is clinically effective and leads to an increase in basophil activation and sulphidoleukotriene production following stimulation with rPru p 3 and peach peel in the first months of treatment.