Severity of eczema at patch site during epicutaneous immunotherapy may predict subsequent response to oral immunotherapy
Peanut epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) consisting in the daily delivery of 250 μg of peanut protein through the skin using a patch device with a condensation chamber has been shown to increase the reactivity thresholds of children with allergy while on therapy (desensitization).1-5 Its main advantage over other immunotherapy routes is that it is generally well-tolerated. Most patients will experience mild local reactions at the patch application sites (Figure 1). These include IgE-mediated urticarial lesions, which usually improve in a matter of weeks, as local skin mast cells are progressively desensitized.