Peanut desensitisation trial shows promising results, offering hope to adults with allergies

A groundbreaking study is offering hope to adults with severe peanut allergies, showing that regular consumption of small amounts of peanuts could help build tolerance and potentially reduce life-threatening reactions. Richard Lassiter, 44, from Beckenham, Greater London, was once hospitalised multiple times due to his severe peanut allergy. However, after participating in a pioneering study, he now consumes four peanuts every morning as part of a desensitisation regimen.

Lassiter’s allergy was so severe that even a trace of peanuts could trigger life-threatening reactions, requiring hospital treatment. He recalled a terrifying incident where he was hospitalised overnight in a high-dependency unit, needing adrenaline and oxygen to stabilise his condition. “I can’t keep dealing with this, it’s just so terrifying,” he told his wife during one of his many medical emergencies. But today, he’s confident about managing his allergy, thanks to the treatment he describes as “taking his medicine.”

The new study, known as peanut desensitisation or oral immunotherapy, was conducted by researchers from King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust. The approach involves gradually introducing small doses of peanut protein to the body, increasing the amount over time to help the immune system build tolerance. This type of therapy has been used in children but is now showing promising results for adults as well.

Lassiter’s experience with the treatment has been transformative. He is now able to eat four peanuts daily, which he does after breakfast, with a sense of routine. “It’s been life-changing for me – it’s increased my confidence immeasurably,” Lassiter said. “I feel much calmer, much happier and really excited about the ability to do all of these things in the future.”

The study, published in the journal Allergy, involved 18 adults who participated in a gradual desensitisation process. Initially, participants were given very small amounts of peanut flour, starting with less than 1% of a whole peanut. As their tolerance grew, they were gradually given larger doses, eventually eating whole peanuts. By the end of the study, 67% of participants were able to consume the equivalent of five peanuts without any allergic reaction.

This trial is particularly significant because it addresses a long-standing gap in medical treatment for adults with peanut allergies. Traditionally, desensitisation studies have focused on children, leaving adults with few treatment options. Professor Stephen Till, the chief investigator and consultant allergist at Guy’s and St Thomas’, explained, “Once I see adult patients in my clinic, there’s been nothing we could offer them. We couldn’t offer desensitisation because the data was all from young children.”

The findings of this study could change that, offering a potential future treatment for adults with peanut allergies. “We were really pleased because we got the evidence that we hoped we would get,” said Professor Till. The results suggest that peanut desensitisation could be an effective solution for adults, just as it has been for children.

The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and offers hope to the thousands of adults who live with the daily anxiety of severe peanut allergies. With 67% of participants successfully desensitised to peanuts, experts believe this could be the beginning of a new era in allergy treatment.

While the research is still in its early stages, the results indicate that this life-changing treatment could help individuals with peanut allergies live a safer and more normal life. The promise of desensitisation therapy provides a glimmer of hope for those who have previously had few options for managing their allergies.