New‐onset post‐transplantation food allergy in children–is it attributable only to the immunosuppressive protocol?

Y Levy, M Davidovits, R Cleper… - Pediatric …, 2009 - Wiley Online Library
Y Levy, M Davidovits, R Cleper, R Shapiro
Pediatric transplantation, 2009Wiley Online Library
New‐onset post‐transplantation food allergy has been described mainly after liver
transplantation, and its pathogenesis was attributed to the immunomodulatory effects of
tacrolimus therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of food
allergy with solid organ transplantation in our center. The medical records of children who
underwent kidney transplantation and children who underwent liver or liver and kidney
transplantation from 1986 to 2005 were reviewed. A total of 189 children (124 after kidney …
Abstract:  New‐onset post‐transplantation food allergy has been described mainly after liver transplantation, and its pathogenesis was attributed to the immunomodulatory effects of tacrolimus therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of food allergy with solid organ transplantation in our center. The medical records of children who underwent kidney transplantation and children who underwent liver or liver and kidney transplantation from 1986 to 2005 were reviewed. A total of 189 children (124 after kidney transplantation, 65 after liver or liver and kidney transplantation) received tacrolimus as part of the immunosuppressive regimen. New‐onset post‐transplantation food allergy was documented in four of them: two with liver transplants and two with combined kidney and liver transplants. The absence of new‐onset food allergy in the children with isolated kidney transplants is compatible with other reports in the literature. This study supports the concept that the functioning liver itself, and not only tacrolimus immunosuppression, is a main contributor to food allergy in this patient population.
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